The New York Times published alarming statistics on January 16, 2024, about diabetes-related amputations happening to men in San Antonio. The numbers are heartbreaking. The article blamed our city’s high amputation rates on genetics, poor diets, and limited access to healthcare. As a vein doctor who has treated thousands of patients in San Antonio, I see another major problem that often gets missed: bad circulation in the legs.
What Happens When Your Leg Veins Stop Working
Venous insufficiency happens when blood can’t flow properly from your legs back up to your heart. Think of it like a traffic jam in your veins. Normally, blood flows down to your legs through arteries and returns to your heart through veins in a continuous cycle. When veins stop working correctly, blood gets stuck in your legs instead of flowing back up. This creates serious problems for diabetic patients because the trapped blood can’t deliver fresh oxygen to leg tissues.
When blood gets trapped in your legs, it creates a dangerous situation for people with diabetes. Without fresh blood flow, your skin and tissues start to break down. Small cuts that would normally heal quickly become stubborn wounds that won’t close. These open sores can easily get infected, and because your body can’t fight infection well without good blood flow, even a tiny cut can lead to serious problems that sometimes require amputation.
Why San Antonio Faces Higher Risk
About 40% of Americans have vein problems, but San Antonio has even higher numbers. Here’s why our city is hit harder:
- Family history matters: Hispanic families often pass down genes that make diabetes and vein problems more likely
- What we eat: Too much processed food causes inflammation and hurts blood flow
- How we live: Sitting too much at work and not getting regular checkups makes things worse
- Women face extra risks: Pregnancy can weaken the valves in leg veins
Catching Problems Early Saves Legs
The good news? Vein problems get worse slowly, which means we can stop them before they become dangerous. At Medical Vein Clinic, our team of board-certified vein specialists educate diabetic patients to watch for warning signs like swollen legs, skin color changes, wounds that won’t heal, and legs that feel heavy or hurt.
Our expert team uses advanced tests to find circulation problems before they threaten your limbs. We offer simple treatments that let you walk in and walk out the same day. Most insurance plans cover these procedures.
More Than Just Treatment
We don’t just fix existing problems. We teach patients how to prevent tissue damage, stop wounds from forming, and reduce infection risk. Simple steps like wearing compression stockings, elevating your legs regularly, keeping feet clean and dry, and doing gentle ankle exercises can make a huge difference. We also offer treatments that reduce lymphatic fluid buildup in legs, which helps patients feel lighter, move better, and exercise more easily.
When patients can move and exercise regularly, it helps control their blood sugar and improves their overall health. Better circulation also reduces the risk of blood clots, helps maintain healthy blood pressure, and supports proper kidney function. It’s a positive cycle that keeps getting better and protects against serious complications like heart disease.
Don’t Wait for Problems to Start
If you have diabetes, get your leg circulation checked now. Don’t wait for complications to develop. Most people don’t realize that diabetes puts extra strain on both veins and arteries in your legs, which is why San Antonio sees such high amputation rates. The link between poor circulation and amputation is real, but we can prevent it with proper screening and care. Our arterial disease specialist recommends that all diabetic patients get yearly arterial screenings along with vein evaluations, because diabetes affects your entire circulatory system.
Call Medical Vein Clinic today to schedule your vein screening. Our team works hard to keep San Antonio residents healthy and mobile. We want to prevent the tragic outcomes we’re seeing too often in our community.
Contact Medical Vein Clinic now for your complete vein evaluation and take the first step toward protecting your health. Call 210-622-8000.