It is very common to see poor blood circulation to the legs (also called Peripheral Vascular Disease or P.V.D) in people with diabetes due to advanced atheroscelosis. This problem involves both the small and large blood vessels of the legs and feet. When the vessels become clogged, a person experiences discomfort or pain in the thigh or calf muscles while standing, walking or exercising. The first physical sign of loss of circulation may be the loss of pulses in the feet. Therefore it is very important that your doctor checks your pulses in the feet every three months.

A good blood flow to the legs is always important but it becomes even more so when extra blood is needed to heal an injury or fight any infection that might occur in the foot.

A number of factors speed up the process of atherosclerosis in diabetes. If these can be avoided or treated, the likelihood of serious problems with large and small blood vessels can be reduced. Heart attack or stroke need to be prevented in diabetes.

What can you do to prevent circulatory problems in the legs?

• Avoid / give up smoking and tobacco
• Lower your cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood
• Increase your walking and physical activity levels. Exercise your legs once everyday when you are lying in bed. Lift your legs and fold them at the knee an then straighten them
• Prevent obesity, lose weight if you are overweight
• Maintain a tight control of your blood sugar
• Maintain a tight control of your blood pressure
  

Key to prevent diabetes, blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, cancers …