South Florida Vascular Associates South Florida Vascular Associates

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Diabetics and Superbug Risks

If there’s anything Americans can agree on, it’s that diabetes is a disease you should not take lightly. Lifestyle changes, like exercising and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, can help to prevent and reduce the symptoms of diabetes.

Nearly 26 million American children and adults have diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2012 diagnosed diabetes in the United States cost $245 billion.
The Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare was created to cut healthcare costs.  So it’s important for Americans to adopt some of these lifestyle changes to prevent higher health care costs for the nation.

Constant monitoring of diabetics may actually cut costs. A new study released in May 2013 from the Journal of Medical Microbiology only supports this theory.
Experts have known for years that diabetics are at greater risk of contracting bacterial infections. The new study shows these same patients are at more risk than non-diabetics to contract those Superbugs that are resistant to certain antibiotics.

Also one of the conditions that result from diabetes is critical limb ischemia or “diabetic foot.” This disorder occurs when arteries of the lower extremities are severely blocked significantly reducing blood flow.

Diabetic patients are more at risk of CLI and amputation of a limb. New research indicates these patients not only need excellent care but constant follow up and regular visits to the doctor to prevent diabetic foot ulcerations and ultimately amputations.

At South Florida Vascular Associates we provide the most advanced vascular care and the latest minimally invasive endovascular treatments.  Our team of interventional radiologists performs a variety of procedures in our state-of-the-Art endovascular suites.

If you are a diabetic and you are experiencing pain in your legs while walking, you may have peripheral artery disease which can become a serious problem if left untreated. We invite you to contact our office to schedule an evaluation with one of our board certified interventional radiologists. We have 3 convenient office locations for your convenience, Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek and Plantation.

Contact us today at 954-573-2929.