What tests are used to detect poor blood circulation due to Diabetes?

[Peyt]

Hi,
I have many of the symptoms of poor blood circulation due to Diabetes,
I want to ask my Doctor to test me for poor blood circulation but am not aware of a test to ask about,
Does anyone know which test(s) is performed to detect poor blood circulation for Diabetes?
Thanks so much,

 

[Mary]

@Peyt - I don't know what test would detect poor blood circulation for diabetes.

However, I urge you to read about thiamine and benfotiamine (a special form of thiamine) which can help prevent or lessen some diabetes complications. Here's one article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21564442 and there's a lot more info out there.

I don't have diabetes but thiamine helped increase my energy (in addition to a good B complex)

 

[Butydoc]

Hi,
I have many of the symptoms of poor blood circulation due to Diabetes,
I want to ask my Doctor to test me for poor blood circulation but am not aware of a test to ask about,
Does anyone know which test(s) is performed to detect poor blood circulation for Diabetes?
Thanks so much,

Hi Peyt,

People with diabetes have much higher incidence of vascular disease especially if they are poorly controlled. This vascular disease can show up in many parts of the body. Peripheral vascular disease, stroke, heart attach etc. Many of these problems can be diagnosed by clinical exam. If a high concern that narrowing of the arteries is present by clinical exam, non-invasive and invasive test can be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Many different options for treatment of above confirmed.

Best,
Gary

 

[Peyt]

Hi Peyt,

People with diabetes have much higher incidence of vascular disease especially if they are poorly controlled. This vascular disease can show up in many parts of the body. Peripheral vascular disease, stroke, heart attach etc. Many of these problems can be diagnosed by clinical exam. If a high concern that narrowing of the arteries is present by clinical exam, non-invasive and invasive test can be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Many different options for treatment of above confirmed.

Best,
Gary

Hi Gary,
Is there a specific type of Doctor that would be more familiar with testing the narrowing of arteries?
Would a G.I. Doctor be appropriate?
and what is the test called? do you know?
Thanks so much,
Peyt

 

[Kati]

Hi Gary,
Is there a specific type of Doctor that would be more familiar with testing the narrowing of arteries?
Would a G.I. Doctor be appropriate?
and what is the test called? do you know?
Thanks so much,
Peyt

Hi @Peyt if i may answer, tests depend on the area which is a problem. If it's the heart than a cardiologist would be the best person. Brain- neurologist. But perhaps an internal medicine dr would be the best person to take a look at 'the whole picture'.

A well controled diabetes and blood sugars, a little bit of exercise and careful attention to the eyes, feet and lower extremities is the best prevention of circulation-related complications of diabetes.

 

[Peyt]

Hi @Peyt if i may answer, tests depend on the area which is a problem. If it's the heart than a cardiologist would be the best person. Brain- neurologist. But perhaps an internal medicine dr would be the best person to take a look at 'the whole picture'.

A well controled diabetes and blood sugars, a little bit of exercise and careful attention to the eyes, feet and lower extremities is the best prevention of circulation-related complications of diabetes.

Hi Kati,
The biggest problem is constant headaches that I get which go away when I use supplements that dilate blood vessels such as Amino Acid L-Arginine. Besides that, my feet, back and legs are also in pain.(and again the pain goes away as soon as I take L-Arginine)
The problem with L-Arginine is that after a week of use it gives me mouth sores, so I have to stop it because of that side effect.. I wish I knew a cream or medicine that would help dilate blood vessels for diabetes.

 

[Hip]

The problem with L-Arginine is that after a week of use it gives me mouth sores, so I have to stop it because of that side effect..

You might consider nitrates as an alternative means of raising NO and dilating blood vessels. Dietary nitrates raise NO levels. High levels of nitrates can be found in beetroot juice.

By mouth sores, do you mean sores inside your mouth (canker sores), or cold sores around your mouth? If the latter, then you can try taking lysine with your arginine, as lysine helps inhibit the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. Refs: 1 2

 

[Peyt]

You might consider nitrates as an alternative means of raising NO and dilating blood vessels. Dietary nitrates raise NO levels. High levels of nitrates can be found in beetroot juice.

By mouth sores, do you mean sores inside your mouth (canker sores), or cold sores around your mouth? If the latter, then you can try taking lysine with your arginine, as lysine helps inhibit the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. Refs: 1 2

Hi Hip,
I mean canker sores inside my mouth. I will try to find a NO cream. Thanks for your comment.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

Hi Hip,
I mean canker sores inside my mouth. I will try to find a NO cream. Thanks for your comment.

I think you need to put your problems to a physician in detail Peyt. The brief description you have given does not sound like symptoms of poor circulation. If there is a genuine problem I would not start trying drugs like nitrates until you know there is a good reason. The main side effect of nitrates is very bad headache.

 

[Hip]

If there is a genuine problem I would not start trying drugs like nitrates until you know there is a good reason. The main side effect of nitrates is very bad headache.

Sorry, I was not never clear: I meant dietary nitrates such as beetroot juice, rather than nitrate drugs.

 

[kangaSue]

Hi,
I have many of the symptoms of poor blood circulation due to Diabetes,
I want to ask my Doctor to test me for poor blood circulation but am not aware of a test to ask about,
Does anyone know which test(s) is performed to detect poor blood circulation for Diabetes?
Thanks so much,

A Doppler Ultrasound of the carotids would be the obvious starting point with headaches but chances are it could be Diabetic Neuropathy causing issue with the microvascular network from an impaired vasodilation response for which it is not easy to be tested for from a blood flow abnormality aspect. Talk to your Physician, a peripheral artery vasodilator might be appropriate.