Maintaining Vascular Health is Critical For Persons with Diabetes

Vascular and Endovascular Center of WNY Encourages Screening During American Diabetes Month

During American Diabetes Month (November) and throughout the year, members of the Society of Vascular Surgery encourage people with diabetes or pre-diabetes symptoms to schedule a vascular screening. Diabetes, if not managed, can cause a number of complications and one of the most serious is the development of vascular disease. It is estimated that there are nearly 9 million people in the US who are not aware that they have diabetes and another 86 million who are pre-diabetic.

Vascular disease, among other complications, can impair circulation to the legs, leading to a reduced ability to walk and in some cases, leg amputation. Vascular disease in the legs is also a major marker for heart disease.

“The most devastating consequences of unchecked diabetes include amputation as well as blindness and kidney failure,” said Paul M. Anain, MD, FACS, of the Vascular & Endovascular Center of WNY, Society of Vascular Surgery members and pioneers in the field. “Our practice is committed to improving awareness in order to prevent and treat the serious consequences of diabetes and undiagnosed vascular disease.”

Because vascular disease is generally asymptomatic until a catastrophic event occurs, such as a stroke or aneurysm rupture, millions of Americans who are at risk remain unaware. Persons with diagnosed diabetes, which the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates at more than 29 million, are at an even greater risk of vascular disease. The symptoms include:

· Blurry vision

· Floating spots in vision (called floaters)

· Swelling of the face or limbs or unexpected weight gain

· Foamy looking urine

· Foot sores

· Loss of feeling or burning sensation in hands or feet

· Leg pain while walking

· High blood pressure

· Chest pain

Vascular Screenings are used to detect the presence of serious disease and employ painless, noninvasive tests (or a combination of tests) to find potentially dangerous conditions. These screening examinations include:

· Ultrasound scan of the aorta to identify aortic aneurysms

· Ultrasound scan of the carotid arteries to assess stroke risk

· Blood pressure measurements in the legs to identify peripheral arterial disease and risk of heart disease.

Vascular and endovascular surgeons are partners with primary care physicians in providing comprehensive care for people with diabetes. For further information, visit www.vecwny.com or call 716-837-2400. 

The Vascular & Endovascular Center of WNY provides services to patients throughout the region at facilities in Erie, Genesee and Niagara counties. The information included in this release is for educational purposes only. It is neither professional medical advice nor is it intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Reading the information in this article does not create a physician-patient relationship.