More than just a blood sugar problem, diabetes is a systemic health condition that wreaks havoc on the body. Understanding the myriad of concerns that accompany diabetes begins with a look at the blood vessels.
Diabetes basics
Long before a diagnosis is made, diabetes has commonly caused periods of elevated blood sugar, a condition known as hyperglycemia. Each hyperglycemic episode exposes the body to ever-more inflammation and the formation of additional Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs). These sugar-like molecules attach to delicate tissues throughout the body, multiplying the harmful effects of inflammation while also hindering the function of tissues and organs at the molecular level. Some of the first tissues to be effected by diabetic inflammation and AGEs are the blood vessels, causing a condition known as Diabetic Vascular Disease.
Understanding diabetic vascular disease
As with any inflammatory process in the body, diabetes and AGEs contribute to the formation of fatty streaks and plaques in the walls of blood vessels. With time, these deposits harden and cause atherosclerosis. Having lost much of their elasticity, a feature essential to proper circulation and function, atherosclerotic blood vessels cannot deliver vital nutrients as well as they should. As a result, the organs and tissues near damaged blood vessels become damaged as well. This is particularly common in some of the smallest blood vessels where even minor losses in elasticity appear as visible changes in organ function.
As unique as the pattern woven by vessels flowing through the body, the spectrum of conditions associated with diabetic vascular disease varies from patient to patient. In some patients, this includes Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), which often manifests in the legs as painful cramps after walking relatively short distances. For other patients, cold or tingling fingers and toes may be a more noticeable concern. Such symptoms can be important warning signs that other organs may also be effected by diabetic vascular disease.
Managing such a multi-faceted condition as diabetic vascular disease makes patient-centered vein specialists like Dr. Amish Tilara and the team at Atlanta Vascular and Vein Center the right treatment choice. Minimally invasive and designed with patient comfort at the forefront, the vascular treatments offered by Dr. Amish Tilara and staff are tailored to suit the needs of each individual patient.
What to expect from diabetic vascular disease treatments
In combination with good glycemic control, the therapies offered at Atlanta Vascular and Vein Center can help to heal the wounds of diabetic vascular disease. Most treatments can be completed during one or a few office visits and allow a quick return to regular activities. The benefits of enhanced blood flow may be felt immediately and improve over time as vessels regrow and heal.
Whether from Duluth, Dacula, Buford, Grayson, Lilburn, Norcross, Snellville or Suwanee; patients from across the Atlanta metro area gather in Lawrenceville at the Atlanta Vascular and Vein Center. Come to Dr. Amish Tilara for answers and find solutions to diabetic vascular disease.
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