[Been type 1 for 54 years and recently diagnosed with P A Ds disease had an M R I and advised that there is no treatment for my condition ie severe leg cramps and foot problems due to lack of circulation with the prospect of the condition getting worse in the immediate future. I have had excellent control for most of the 54 years i have had Diabetes without any major probs. I am shocked by this revelation I would like to hear from anyone with a similar condition and how does one cope with such an negative response in an event such as this.
Type 1 Pads Disease treatment
- Thread starter allander
- Start Date
robert72
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,878
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
I have Intermittent Claudication, which is caused by narrowing of the arteries. I can walk a certain distance before I get pain in my leg muscles caused by low blood supply. If I stop and rest a few minutes the pain goes away... legs fill up and I can walk again for a similar distance before it happens again 
Anyway, my vascular consultant advised me to walk as much as possible to widen the surrounding arteries (which are not blocked) to increase blood supply. The idea is to push on, even though it hurts a bit, although eventually one has to stop and rest. I have been doing this for the last 18 months and circulation is improving. I walk for about half an hour each day.
I'm surprised that you got such a negative response from your team. I am prescribed 75mg aspirin and a statin for this, although the statin gave me leg cramps during the night.
Anyway, my vascular consultant advised me to walk as much as possible to widen the surrounding arteries (which are not blocked) to increase blood supply. The idea is to push on, even though it hurts a bit, although eventually one has to stop and rest. I have been doing this for the last 18 months and circulation is improving. I walk for about half an hour each day.
I'm surprised that you got such a negative response from your team. I am prescribed 75mg aspirin and a statin for this, although the statin gave me leg cramps during the night.
hiya no direct experience with diabetes and PAD however I am type 1, my mum is a radiology nurse and specialises in vascular medicine and my lovely dad has PAD (popliteal aneurysm to boot).
Like the above poster my dads advice has been to continue walking as much as possible. He was diagnosed 3 years ago, takes aspirin and statins and his circulation is definatly improving. Its not a dramatic improvement but gradual, and certainly for the last 6mo his ability to walk longer distances at more of a speed is certainly much more than when he was diagnosed. Like you surgery is not an option for my dad - the risks for planned surgery are too high, he has to wait and see if it becomes an emergency. If it does become an emergency then of course they will attempt the surgery, but when the alternative is to lose a leg its certainly worth trying then. In the meantime he has given up smoking, and after my (VERY) recent type 1 diagnosis is looking at changing his diet, considering he is about 5 stone overweight and its all around the middle he really needs to. He has also been back to the gp since my diagnosis as his own sugars were above the normal range, and whilst the gp isnt diagnosis diabetes yet he is keeping a close eye on the situation.
It does feel like your getting only a negative response, as often surgery is just too high risk... however I am suprised that they did not discuss the benefits of excercising in order to improve circulation to the affected limb through widening the other arteries around it.
Anyway I will stop rambling now, I hope my post has helped, and please excuse all the typo's. I still have very blurry vision following my christmas diagnosis.
sal x
Like the above poster my dads advice has been to continue walking as much as possible. He was diagnosed 3 years ago, takes aspirin and statins and his circulation is definatly improving. Its not a dramatic improvement but gradual, and certainly for the last 6mo his ability to walk longer distances at more of a speed is certainly much more than when he was diagnosed. Like you surgery is not an option for my dad - the risks for planned surgery are too high, he has to wait and see if it becomes an emergency. If it does become an emergency then of course they will attempt the surgery, but when the alternative is to lose a leg its certainly worth trying then. In the meantime he has given up smoking, and after my (VERY) recent type 1 diagnosis is looking at changing his diet, considering he is about 5 stone overweight and its all around the middle he really needs to. He has also been back to the gp since my diagnosis as his own sugars were above the normal range, and whilst the gp isnt diagnosis diabetes yet he is keeping a close eye on the situation.
It does feel like your getting only a negative response, as often surgery is just too high risk... however I am suprised that they did not discuss the benefits of excercising in order to improve circulation to the affected limb through widening the other arteries around it.
Anyway I will stop rambling now, I hope my post has helped, and please excuse all the typo's. I still have very blurry vision following my christmas diagnosis.
sal x
Was diagnosed with PAD in 2011. Distance before cramp sets in is about 40 feet. Also have cardiac stent and have had a couple of TIA's a few years ago.
Unfortunatley I now have unstable diabetes due to delayed digestion caused by auto nerve damage , gastroparesis it's called , as well as anemia of chronic disease which doesn't help. .
After consultant congratulated me on being a slim person with this condition, he also said no intervention until limb at risk. Contrary to what my GP had said, he told me not to push my walking distance until moderate pain is felt before I stop, as it damages the nerves and tissues.But he did say to keep as mobile and walking as much as I can. Not so easy to do in cold windy weather as pain starts in a few minutes, when having to stop and wait until blood returns every 40 feet, and it lasts for ages after.
When my blood sugar is high, eg over 20 (as it often is with gastroparesis) can hardly walk the length of our house. Is this because the blood becomes syrupy thick or something ? Does anyone else have this or pain in cold weather. As I'm quite baffled by how much distance can vary day to day.
Unfortunatley I now have unstable diabetes due to delayed digestion caused by auto nerve damage , gastroparesis it's called , as well as anemia of chronic disease which doesn't help. .
After consultant congratulated me on being a slim person with this condition, he also said no intervention until limb at risk. Contrary to what my GP had said, he told me not to push my walking distance until moderate pain is felt before I stop, as it damages the nerves and tissues.But he did say to keep as mobile and walking as much as I can. Not so easy to do in cold windy weather as pain starts in a few minutes, when having to stop and wait until blood returns every 40 feet, and it lasts for ages after.
When my blood sugar is high, eg over 20 (as it often is with gastroparesis) can hardly walk the length of our house. Is this because the blood becomes syrupy thick or something ? Does anyone else have this or pain in cold weather. As I'm quite baffled by how much distance can vary day to day.
