How does diabetes contribute to PAD?
People with diabetes have a high risk for developing PAD because of the damaging effects of uncontrolled blood sugar on arteries. Diabetes also worsens blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. An estimated 75 to 80 percent of people with diabetes will die of some form of heart disease or PAD. Untreated, the disease may also lead to amputation. Caution and care should be given to preventing and detecting foot sores that can quickly become seriously infected, leading to gangrene (tissue death).
