Skin changes seen in diabetic legs are often caused by vein disease. Diabetics often develop vein disease as well as arterial disease. They can develop macro and micro angiopathy and amyloid deposit with inflammation in their arteries. However, vein disease in the legs is much more common than arterial disease. Stasis from the faulty valves of vein disease leads to stasis or blood pooling in the legs and feet. This leads to more inflammation of the skin seen as redness and brownish discoloration, skin hardening and thinning of feet and ankles. These changes caused by vein disease can be misdiagnosed as an arterial problem. Untreated, these skin changes can lead to complications like dermatitis and leg ulcers.
The good news is most venous disease is treatable. The first step is to get an evaluation by an experienced vein specialist, a phlebologist. The evaluation should include a duplex, color flow, venous ultrasound scan by a Registered sonographer in a Phlebology specialist office. Phlebologists are trained and take the boards in Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. Comprehensive venous care should include expert diagnosis, education and all of the treatment modalities.
The treatment starts measurement and fitting for medical compression stockings to meet any insurance guidelines pre-treatment. Comprehensive treatment options should also include saphenous ablations, for example Radio Frequency Ablations [RFA], surgery such as microphlebectomy, Sclerotherapy for spider veins, and Lasers for the tiniest spider veins.
St Louis laser Vein Center offers comprehensive vein care, starting with expert diagnosis and full range of treatment options. Dr Thomas Wright, the medical director is a diplomat of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and has specialized in treating vein disease for over a decade.
