Are Diabetes and Vein Disease Directly Related?
Diabetes and Vein Disease
Although Diabetes and Vein Disease are not directly linked, but they are related! According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting Americans with more than 29.1 million, or 9.3 percent of the overall population, being diagnosed with the disease and 1.4 million new cases of diabetes being diagnosed each year.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is the condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugars to build up in your blood.
There are multiple types of diabetes, including:
Type 1 Diabetes, also commonly known as early onset, juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, is an autoimmune disorder. The condition occurs when the body cannot produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes affects about five to 10 percent of those with diabetes, and those with the disease have to take daily insulin injections to treat the condition.
- Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of the disease, with 90 to 95 percent of those affected having this type of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is caused when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the cells become resistant to insulin.
- Gestational Diabetes affects pregnant women with high blood pressure. This type of diabetes will affect about four percent of pregnant women. Patients who develop this type of diabetes have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes within the next five to 10 years.
- Prediabetes is a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are too high but not high enough to diagnose type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes-related Vein Problems
Although there are no proven direct links between diabetes and varicose veins, standing or seating for long periods of time does increase the risk of varicose veins – and people who are overweight and stand or seat for too long place greater strain on the veins in their legs. Being overweight also increases the risk of developing diabetes, as well as developing other medical conditions that can impair healthy blood flow. Simply put, the more weight that the legs have to support, the harder it is for veins to fight gravity and do their job. While there are many side effects associated with diabetes, a common risk is the development of various vein health issues, including Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), or varicose veins.
Symptoms of CVI include:
- Pain, heaviness or swelling in the legs, ankles or feet
- Cramping in the muscles of the legs, most commonly in the calves
- Itching around the veins
- Changes in color or texture of the skin
To prevent swelling, people with diabetes should do the following:
- Cut down on salt intake
- Elevate the legs when resting
- Eat high-fiber foods such as bran cereals, whole grain breads, and fresh fruits and vegetables to promote regularity
- Avoid seating or standing for prolonged periods of time
Treatments
If you have diabetes and are experiencing uncomfortable leg pain or any of the symptoms we have discussed in this post, visiting Alpha Vein Clinic for a consultation with Dr Sassan Kaveh is a great start to better vein health. During your visit, our team will evaluate your condition and offer advice on the best treatment options specified to your needs.
Alpha Vein Clinic offers the latest minimally invasive procedures such as Radiofrequency Ablation and the newst treatment option, ClariVein. Both procedures require little downtime compared to other, older treatments and are covered by most medical insurances.
Call our offices to schedule a consultation at (702)430-7661.
Alpha Vein Clinic
3150 N. Tenaya Way Ste. 400
Las Vegas, NV, 89128
(702) 430 7661
Dr. Sassan Kaveh
You Can Now Call Us 24/7