Arteriosclerosis Symptoms Treatment and Prevention :
If we say that diabetes is a disease of blood vessels, then it is not wrong. The risk of developing heart disease is greater in diabetics as compared to normal person. Cardiovascular complications in diabetes are due to process of atherosclerosis (Hardening of the arteries). There are basically two types of carriers of cholesterol in blood. LDL and HDL. LDL  take the cholesterol through the circulatory system to where it is needed and HDL carry unsed cholesterol back to liver. When there is excess of cholesterol in blood, it is deposited in blood vessels forming plaques on vessel walls, which makes them more narrow and less flexible. This raises the risk for blood clots, heart attack and CVA. When someone has diabetes mellitus, LDLs are slowed down due to glucose in the blood, which makes blood cholesterol deposition on vessel walls much faster. Particularly smaller arteries are affected more, specially of heart, eyes, kidney and brain.

Similarly this process of arteriosclerosis affects blood vessels that supply legs and feet. Patient will have pain in legs while walking which is relieved during rest. At rest one can have numbness in feet and legs. Legs and feet will feel cold. Pain can be felt in calves and thighs as well. Loss of hair can be seen on legs. Pulse will be low volume and feeble in legs and feet or may be absent. In severe cases arteriosclerosis may be associated with ulcer and thombosis. This complication is commonly seen in patients above 50 years of age. Sometimes this may lead to severe gangrene of feet and leg.

Prevention is better than cure, simply make strict control of your blood sugar level, do regular exercises, if you are overweight, try to lose weight. Stop smoking, try to control your blood pressure within desired limits. Foot care is also very important. Wear shoes that fit properly. keep feet as clean as possible, must examin your feet regularly to see any cuts or minor injuries. Treatment is symptometic, pain killers for pain relieve, antibiotics for infection, blood thinners to prevent thombosis, and of course glucose lowering drugs. Surgery is indicated in severe cases and sometimes limbs are amputated if infection starts spreading to other body parts.