Prof. Dr. Rahmi Çubuk

Diabetic Foot and Vascular Occlusion Treatments

Diabetic Foot and Vascular Occlusion Treatments

What is Peripheral Artery Disease?

Peripheral artery disease primarily occurs due to narrowing or occlusion of the arteries caused by calcification in the leg and foot arteries.
Peripheral artery disease is seen in approximately 25% of the diabetic population and in about half of those with diabetic foot disease.
Peripheral artery disease is often asymptomatic, meaning it may not present any signs. When symptoms do occur, they can lead to reduced quality of life, resting pain, and chronic skin wounds or ulcers. In more advanced cases, it may cause gangrene, leading to limb loss (amputation of the foot or leg).

 

How Does Peripheral Artery Disease Present in Diabetes?
The classic symptoms of peripheral artery disease include intermittent claudication (limping while walking), leg pain during rest, and a sedentary lifestyle. However, in diabetic patients, peripheral neuropathy (loss of sensation in the feet and legs) caused by the disease reduces or eliminates pain perception in the legs, making it difficult to diagnose vascular blockages in the legs. Additionally, the accuracy of non-invasive diagnostic tests like the ankle-brachial index, commonly used during medical examinations, is lower in diabetic patients.
As a result, patients with diabetic peripheral artery disease are often underdiagnosed. These patients face a higher risk of major vascular and heart diseases.

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