How Diabetes Affects Your Vascular Health: What Patients Should Know
Your arteries work constantly to move blood where it’s needed, carrying oxygen and nutrients to every part of your body. However, when diabetes keeps blood sugar levels high, that steady circulation begins to change. Excess sugar in the bloodstream injures the delicate lining of your blood vessels, which makes it harder for blood to move through the body.
Over time, this can lead to circulation problems that affect the heart, brain, and limbs, increasing the risk for conditions like peripheral artery disease and stroke. Because these changes happen slowly, early monitoring and prevention are key to catching complications before they develop into something more serious.
How High Blood Sugar Affects Your Blood Vessels
Diabetes — whether type 1 or type 2 — raises the amount of glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream. When blood sugar stays high for long periods, it damages the delicate inner lining of your arteries. In response, your body tries to “patch” this damage with layers of cholesterol and other materials, forming plaque inside the vessel walls.
As plaque builds up, the vessels become narrower and stiffer, making it harder for oxygen-rich blood to reach your organs and tissues. This process is known as atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Over time, it can impact circulation throughout the body, including the legs, feet, kidneys, and brain.
Common Vascular Conditions Linked to Diabetes
For people with diabetes, this reduced circulation often shows up first in the legs and feet, where arteries are smaller and more vulnerable to blockage. This is known as peripheral artery disease (PAD). You might notice leg pain when walking, feet that feel unusually cold or pale, or wounds that heal slowly. Without treatment, PAD can progress to more serious complications, including infection or tissue loss.
Diabetes can also affect the arteries that carry blood to the brain, leading to a condition called carotid artery disease. When these vessels become narrowed by plaque, blood flow to the brain is reduced, increasing the risk of stroke.
The Importance of Vascular Screenings and Preventive Care
Many people with diabetes meet a vascular specialist for the first time when a major issue, such as a blocked artery or poor blood flow to the feet, requires urgent treatment. But it doesn’t have to get to that point. Regular vascular screenings can catch problems early, when they’re most treatable.
At Carient Heart & Vascular, our team provides comprehensive care for patients with diabetes and vascular disease. Through non-invasive imaging, personalized treatment plans, and ongoing monitoring, we help protect your circulation and overall cardiovascular health.
If you have diabetes, talk to your provider about scheduling a vascular screening. Protecting your blood vessels today can help you stay active, independent, and healthy for years to come.