If you have DPN and peripheral artery disease (PAD) those injuries will take longer to heal and on top of that, they don’t heal very well. With PAD (lack of blood flow to your limbs due to narrow arteries), a simple injury can develop into an infection and that’s the last thing you want to happen.
A series of other problems can arise due to PAD, including leg pain, discolored feet (bluish color) and gangrene.
Thankfully though, PAD can be managed with medication along with a few simple lifestyle changes. That means quitting smoking, keeping your blood sugar levels steady, exercising regularly and eating healthy foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
If worse comes to worse, an angioplasty (a nonsurgical procedure) can be performed to widen those narrow arteries and increase blood flow to the limbs.
When you have diabetes, then you should know how important it is have open and honest communication with your doctor. So, if you suspect that you may have DPN and/or PAD, schedule an appointment with your doctor ASAP.
Diabetes & Peripheral Artery Disease was originally published on blackdoctor.org
