Anonymous Question My Sister Needs Help - Artery Disease & Diabetes

[Anonymous Question]

I’m asking on behalf of my sister she is type two diabetic and my family have a history of artery disease.

Lately she has bad trouble walking and in pain with her legs at her last health check they found that there was an absent pulse in her right foot they said it’s possibly diabetic related they said her abpi is 0.82 right leg and 0.77 left leg, they didn’t explain properly what this means so it’s left her confused as to what to do!

Does she need an angiogram or an ultra sound for her legs ?

And the measurements I stated above are they dangerous when it comes to artery blockages?

I would appreciate any advice about this if you have encountered other people going through this problem thanks in advance x

 

[kitedoc]

Sorry to hear of your sister's troubles.
I amazed that the health team did not explain to your sister what the readings meant.
Was she meant to go back to obtain the results? If not - I would suggest she go back to the consultant who ordered the test, with you as an observer if she will allow it.
I am not qualified to interpret the results quoted but obviously there is a difference between the readings which needs
explanation.
And this should help clarify if further investigations such as you have mentioned are required.
Also one would expect advice on any other measures to be taken regarding possible causes of any blockage such as about diabetes etc
I hope that your sister is realistic and not in denial about her problems and that she obtains the best advice and management.

 

[Guzzler]

I think @Jo_the_boat may be able to help. SorryJoe, if it is not you I'm thinking of.

 

[Brunneria]

Hi and welcome, Anon

Sorry to hear your sister is concerned and that things haven't been explained to her.
This is a link to wikipedia, which explains what abpi is. A bit technical in places, but there is a table half way down the page which shows what the different readings mean.

Hope that helps.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankle–brachial_pressure_index
As always, wikipedia is only as good as the info people put in it, but it may help your sister to formulate a few questions for her next appointment.

 

[Lazybones]

What you are describing is almost exactly what I myself have been experiencing so perhaps this might help her with the circulation problems in her legs.
Like your sister, I also am a Type 2 diabetic, and for several years now I have experienced coldness and poor circulation in both my lower legs and feet.
At each of my 6 monthly diabetic reviews I have always mentioned this and on each occasion they have they detected either a week pulse or no pulse in my ankles and this was never followed up despite my mentioning it to the at every oppertunity. Christmas was for me a dreadful time as for some reason my toes reddened and started swelling and I experienced severe difficulty in walking particularly when putting the front pad of either of my feet on the ground, so in consequence I ended up having to walk about on my heels solely to relieve the intense pain.
I wanted to see my GP as soon as possible to see what could be done, but after the Christmas period I was informed that they were so busy that the next available appointment would be in 6 weeks time.
Six weeks of walking in painfull agony was something that I couldnot stand, so I did my own research and found that of all things, 1/2 a teaspoon of Baking Soda dissolved in Orange juice (To take the horrible taste away) did the trick, and within 3 days I no longer needed the self remedy and I was more or less walking about with vitually no pains in my feet or lower legs.
Since then I have been taking a sprinkling of ground Ginger dissolved as best it can be in a small glass of 'Diet' coke each evening and I can say that since taking the Ginger everyting has remained fine and pain free.
I did eventually get to see m GP who arranged for me to go to my local hospital (My appointment was in July 6 months after I cured myself) where the circulation within both my legs was examined using an Ultrasonic (Colour) scanner which shows the blood as it flows through the arteries without the need for any invasive surgery (Very Clever)
The result of this was to show that the coldness and poor circulation in my lower legs, ankles and feet is caused by the constriction of the smaller blood vessels (Apparantly a common problem that we Type 2's can experience) and by using the 'Ginger' it would seem that I have obviated the necessity for any operations or stents being necessciary.
I'm not saying or advising that your sister should follow what I decided to do myself, proper professional advice should always be her first approach but as her problems seem to be so identical to those I experienced at the begining of this year I decided to relate my story.

 

[Resurgam]

In the absence of advice from a doctor you might try tablets of ginko biloba as that is widely considered to improve circulation - though it is not advisable for women pre menopause as it can cause problems.
Sage tea might help, as might a small amount of 'real' alcoholic ginger beer or any small amount of alcohol - being a vaso dilator.
From my own experience, when I was first diagnosed with a failed thyroid and given Thyroxine the first change I noticed was the warmth in my hands and feet and the increased strength of the pulse in my wrists - presumably it would have been the same in my ankles. It might be worth inquiring if your sister's thyroid function has been checked - there are various possible causes and many things which can alleviate the problem - my father had the same problem and so it is something I have paid more attention to over the years, just in case I might need to take action myself one day.

 

[Jo_the_boat]

I've been flagged up here so.......
I'm T2 but diabetic nurse noticed chilly feet and sent to me to see a podiatrist who in turn sent me to see a vascular specialist. All this happened within a month. Don't know where your sister is but I'm in the UK.
I had discomfort when walking (still do) but that eases within a minute or two's rest. I was diagnosed with a complete blockage higher up so probably different to your sister.
She really needs some proper answers. Sounds like she's been left in the lurch.
There is no point me trying to guess what the problem is, indeed it is wrong - that's a medics responsibility.

Before she gets to see anyone I can tell you what my specialist advised me to do on an ongoing basis. Don't smoke. Exercise as much as possible. Keep blood sugars under good control.
I was prescribed Aspirin, a tablet to dilate blood vessels and a Statin (to try and keep my blockage from breaking up - NOT to reduce cholesterol).

I find it amazing that she was just let go without proper consultation or promise of follow-ups. She should really insist on them. There is plenty to be done to help.