By Jeffrey Edwards, MD, RPVI
In the United States nearly 30 million people have diabetes, and a vast majority of our population have prediabetes, which can quickly escalate into the diabetes within a short period of time if left untreated. If you have diabetes, it’s critical that you see a vascular specialist because the probability of vascular disorders is significant with high blood sugar levels.
How does diabetes effect the vascular system?
Heart disease and high blood glucose are closely associated because of many risk factors contributing to what’s known as metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which the high insulin and leptin levels are resistant causing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and visceral fat to become significant risk factors for heart and vascular disease
Insulin is a hormone that helps move sugar into the blood for energy, in the case of an insulin resistant person, they have too much sugar, and the body cannot adequately utilize the source. This leads to weight gain, obesity, and subsequently, a more sedentary lifestyle. Leptin is a hormone that helps regulate body weight by sending signals to the hypothalamus in the brain. When the signals are damaged, the body becomes leptin resistant, and a person may often feel extremely hungry and irritable, which contributes to a vicious cycle of overeating foods that are high in sugar and unhealthy fats.
Metabolic syndrome has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and a vast number of Americans are at risk because they are overweight. When the vessels are circulating high-glucose blood, atherosclerosis (plaque buildup) occurs at a greater intensity. Atherosclerosis causes a hardening of the arteries, and puts patients at risk for cardiac and vascular events.
Unfortunately, sugar and simple carbohydrates that have a high glycemic index have become a major staple in the American diet. The normal fasting blood sugar levels should be around 70-99 mg/dl. The normal A1C, which measures the blood glucose level, should be below 6%. With diabetes and even prediabetes, these levels are at an unhealthy height and can be very hard to lower without major intervention with medication, exercise, dietary changes, and a lifestyle overhaul.
Lowering blood sugar is not enough. Several other issues need to be addressed.
As diabetes can impact the circulation, it can also impact the nervous system leading to neuropathy. Patients with neuropathy are at increased risk of developing wounds which may be difficult to heal due to underlying vascular disease, and this ultimately increases the risk of limb loss.
If you or a loved one has any of the risk factors above, it is important that you discuss with your medical provider. Establishing care with a vascular surgeon is an important part of managing the vascular disease which can accompany diabetes. You should also establish care with a podiatrist to help treat and prevent neuropathy-associated wounds.
Sarasota Vascular Specialists
Sarasota Vascular Specialists have been the leading vascular specialists in the tri-county area for over 30 years. Their practice is the only medical practice dedicated to the treatment of patients with disorders of the veins and arteries. Unlike most surgical groups, they are also uniquely trained and experienced to offer all forms of diagnosis and therapy including:
• Varicose veins, spider veins, deep venous thrombosis
• Carotid artery surgery and carotid stenting
• Medical management, angioplasty, bypass
• Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms
Sarasota Vascular Specialists has an onsite lab to perform ultrasound and give rapid diagnostics. Their vascular lab can non-invasively diagnose all arterial and venous diseases. Their experienced vascular lab staff includes seven registered vascular technologists.
It’s the first vascular laboratory in Sarasota to be certified by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories. The lab was also featured as the gold standard facility by ABC Television’s Prime Time when it evaluated vascular labs in Florida. They have over $500,000 invested in our state-of-the-art GE Ultrasound scan machines as well as our Unetix physiological units. Their facility also developed the AtriumNet software program for rapid reporting of results.
To schedule your appointment, please call 941-371-6565, or visit veinsandarteries.com to find out more.
Sarasota Vascular Specialists
941-371-6565
veinsandarteries.com
Sarasota
600 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, Florida 34232