Originally posted in March 2023 on Healthy Cells Magazine.
Many people believe that diabetes causes varicose veins and other venous diseases. The truth isn’t quite so straightforward.
A number of medical conditions are associated with venous disease. Among the more serious of these disorders is diabetes, which can significantly exacerbate the symptoms of varicose veins and other chronic venous insufficiencies. While diabetes and venous disease aren’t direct causes of each other, there are some shared risk factors between the two that can make them particularly dangerous when seen in conjunction with each other.
Diabetes affects the nerves, arteries, and skin in the legs and feet. When too much glucose builds up in the blood, numbness can occur in the limb, preventing patients from recognizing and responding to injuries. As the disease progresses, blood flow in the arteries of the legs and feet begins to diminish, resulting in further damage to the nerves and, in some cases, ulcers on the feet.
Much like diabetes, venous disease negatively affects circulation in the legs and feet, resulting in significant swelling, itching, and burning. Uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetes with lymphatic edema will worsen venous symptoms by placing additional stress on the veins. As a result, patients with diabetes and circulatory problems are even more susceptible to the usual complications of each — in particular, significant leg swelling and infection risk. These complications tend to be much more severe, especially when care is delayed.
Diabetes and venous diseases can occur simultaneously. Though most often seen in older, overweight individuals, with a family history of either condition, both are sometimes present in individuals with certain characteristics. The most common risk factors include:
While diabetes and venous disease aren’t causally linked, each can be effectively managed with similar measures, including:
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