Get,

Free Doctor Tips

to manage your symptom

Get your,

FREE Doctor Tips Now!!

4 Cr+ families

benefitted

Yes, I’d like to receive updates

No, thank you

Enter your Phone Number

+91

Enter a valid mobile number

Send OTP

Verify your mobile number

OTP sent to 9988776655

Enter OTP

Didn’t receive it? Retry in 00:

Resend OTP

Enter Valid OTP

Confirm

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You’ve successfully subscribed to receive

doctor-approved tips on Whatsapp

Get ready to feel your best.

Hi There,

Download the PharmEasy App now!!

AND AVAIL

AD FREE reading experience

Get 25% OFF on medicines

Download App

Hi There,

Enjoy AD FREE reading experience

Get 25% OFF on medicines

Trusted by 4 crore+ families

Begin your healthcare journey now!

Enter a valid mobile number

Send OTP

Verify your mobile number

OTP sent to 9988776655

Enter OTP

Didn’t recieve it? Retry in 00:

Resend OTP

Enter Valid OTP

Confirm

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You have unlocked 25% off on medicines

COUPON FOR YOU

FLAT 25% OFF

Code: NU25

Add items worth ₹1000 to avail the

coupon benefits

Collect Coupon

Comments

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Leave your comment here Cancel reply

25% OFF on medicines

Collect your coupon before the offer ends!!!

COLLECT

Home Blog Doctor's Speak Diabetes and amputations: Dr. Bhavesh Tells You How to Prevent It

Diabetes and amputations: Dr. Bhavesh Tells You How to Prevent It

By PharmEasy Medical Board +2 more

By PharmEasy Medical Board

Last updated: Sep 16, 2024 Published on: Oct 23, 2017

Click to rate this article!

[Total: 3 Avg: 3.3]

The prevalence of diabetes is rising globally and is projected to increase by 69% by 2030 in developing countries. As PAD is often associated with Diabetes, Diabetic patients are at an increased risk of limb amputations.Incidence of Peripheral Vascular Disease (Diabetic Foot) With the dubious distinction as the ”Diabetic capital of the world”, more than 35 million Indians were affected with Diabetes in 2011, which is expected to rise to about 80 million by 2030. Limb amputations are also very common in India with almost 3 million people suffering from CLI caused by PAD. Lower limb amputations have been roughly estimated to be 45000 every year.Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)Blood flows from our heart to various parts of our body via blood vessels called arteries. Similarly, the vessels which transport blood back to the heart are called veins. Peripheral Vascular Disease is a blood circulation disorder in which blood flow outside of the heart via blood vessels is reduced or blocked. Such blockage can happen both with arteries or veins however since mostly the same is observed in arteries, PVD is also referred to as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). The blockage of arteries happens due to Arteriosclerosis i.e. hardening of arteries due to plaque formation in the arteries or blockage can also happen due to blood vessel spasms. In Arteriosclerosis, the plaque growth slowly inside the arteries increases and may ultimately completely block the artery resulting in organ damage, if left untreated.While PVD is mostly observed in the legs, it may also develop in blood vessels supplying blood to your other body parts like arms, kidneys etc.Symptoms and causes of PVDIt should be noted that approximately 50% of people suffering from PVD do not show any symptoms till the point of the condition reaches life-threatening levels.PVD begin slowly and irregularly. You may feel discomfort like fatigue and cramping in your legs and feet that gets worse with physical activity due to the lack of blood flow. If you feel pain, numbness, heaviness, cramps in your legs, ankles, calf muscles especially after some physical activity like walking on stairs, slope or if any soars on your feet are very slow to heal, you should immediately get yourself checked for PVD.People having any coronary heart problem, diabetes is also susceptible to PVD and hence should get regular check-ups done for PVD.PVD is characterised by the narrowing of blood vessels thus obstructing the free flow of blood in the body. This mainly happens due to Atherosclerosis i.e. build-up of plaque in the blood vessels. Plaque builds up on artery walls reducing the space for blood to flow effectively. It is the most common cause of PVD. The development of plaque in the human body happens due to various factors.Risk factors include any accidental injury or irregular muscle anatomy, any infection. Risk factors of PVD include items that can be changed and factors that cannot be controlled by the patient.Following people are at high risk of developing PVD and should get themselves evaluated by expert doctors like –

Heart patients
Diabetic patients
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Family history of heart diseases
Kidney patients
Obese/ overweight individuals

Smoking and physical inactivity also increase the risk of getting Peripheral Artery Disease.Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD/PAD) a serious health problemPeripheral Vascular Disease or Peripheral Arterial Disease is a serious health condition that should not be left unattended. PVD is a leading cause of disability among people over age 60, as well as those with diabetes. However, it should not be assumed that it is an only age-related problem as PVD develops and grows slowly in the body and hence an early treatment will avoid any complication in old age.If PVD is not treated in time it may lead to the following:Amputation of Limb: As PVD advances, there comes a stage where blood flow to the limbs is fully blocked thus supply of fresh blood and tissue is stopped. The tissues start decaying due to lack of oxygen and result in the development of Gangrene leading to amputation of a limb.Extremely Painful and Non-Healing Ulcers: Fresh blood flow is required by the body to heal any injury and maintaining health. Once blood flow is blocked, any injury in that part of the body is difficult to heal. Also due to the non-supply of blood, the chances of the development of infection is high. In advance cases, such ulcers and injuries may lead to amputation or death.Diabetic Foot Ulcers are commonly seen developed due to PVD and if untreated the same definitely leads to amputation of the limb. Extreme Pain in the affected body part, restricted mobility due to loss of muscle strength in the affected body part, stroke: people suffering PVDs are three times more likely to get Stroke. While PVD is an extremely dangerous health condition, with aggressive treatment under an expert doctor it may be treated and the above complications be avoided.ChallengesA major problem with PVD/PAD is that almost 50% of the patient do not show symptoms. In cases where the patients do show symptoms, many times it is brushed aside as the symptoms appear generic and an expert doctor is not consulted in time.A delayed diagnosis and delay in treatment can result in extreme complications. If you are experiencing any problem as mentioned in the symptoms section above immediately consult an interventional radiologist as they are best trained to treat PVDs.If you do not have any symptoms as but have any heart disease, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, or any kidney disease you should regularly get yourself checked for PVD. All people above age 50 years are also highly recommended for evaluation on a regular basisDiagnosis of PVDEarly diagnosis is key to treatment. While the early symptoms of PVD are generic, the good part is that there are various tests that can be performed to identify the complication.Ankle-brachial index (ABI): An inexpensive test that can be a very good indicator of the existence of PVD. It is highly recommended that you get this very inexpensive test included in your annual health check. If you do face any symptoms it is recommended that you consult your doctor or visit an Interventional Radiologist for this test. An ABI is a comparison of the blood pressure in the ankle with pressure in the arm using a regular blood pressure cuff and a Doppler ultrasound device.Doppler Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves and a computer is used to create images of blood vessels, organs & tissues. Doppler technique is used to measure and assess the flow of blood. Faintness or absence of sound may indicate an obstruction in the blood flow.Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA): This non-invasive diagnostic procedure uses a combination of a large magnet, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body. An MRA is often used to examine the brain and other soft tissues and to assess blood flow.Angiogram: This is an X-ray of the arteries and veins to detect blockage or narrowing of the vessels. This procedure involves inserting a thin, flexible tube into an artery in the leg and injecting a contrast dye. The contrast dye makes the arteries and veins visible on the X-ray.The above is primarily used to diagnose PVDs. Ankle-Brachial Index is a very inexpensive test and should be adopted earlier before getting other tests done.TreatmentIt is often believed that PVD is normal with ageing. It is also believed that surgery is the only treatment option for PVD which is not true. With the advancement in technology, there are options other than surgery available for the treatment of PVDs.The main objective of the treatment of PVD is to control the symptoms and to halt the progression of the disease to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, etc.Medical Management: An expert like Interventional Radiologist may not suggest any procedure but plain medical management along with lifestyle changes to control the progression of PVDs.Angioplasty: Angioplasty may be done with many arteries of the body and is frequently adopted for the treatment of PVDs in limbs. It is preferred over surgery as it is less invasive and gives patient faster recovery. There are various kinds of Angioplasty performed depending on the condition of the patient like Balloon Angioplasty, Atherectomy oLaser Angioplasty and Stenting.Vascular Surgery: A complex treatment line only adopted when the patient condition does not allow other treatment options. It is the traditional way of treatment and leads to a long recovery time for the patient. Consultation with Doctor and evaluation to do angioplasty by an interventional radiologist should be considered before opting for surgery.Doctor Profile:Dr. Bhavesh Arun Popat is an Endovascular Specialist practising in the city of Mumbai for the last 10 years. After completing his fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology from Seth G. S. Medical College, he continued to work as faculty at KEM Hospital. During his tenure at KEM Hospital, he has been actively involved in treating complex endovascular cases along with training budding Interventional Radiologists.Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.