Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when there is a cholesterol plaque on the blood vessel walls causing them to narrow resulting in reduced circulation to the upper and more commonly lower limbs. It commonly affects people with type 2 diabetes especially when they have poor diabetic control. According to the American Diabetes Association, about 1 in 3 people with diabetes over the age of 50 have PAD. Other people at risk include smokers, older age, people with high cholesterol, overweight and having sedentary lifestyle with minimum or no exercise