Varicose Veins & Diabetes: Treatment Options

Living with diabetes requires careful management, and addressing additional health concerns like varicose veins becomes crucial for overall well-being. Avis Vascular Center offers specialized care, combining expertise in both diabetes and minimally invasive vein treatments.

Understanding Varicose Veins and their Impact on Diabetes:

Varicose veins, swollen and twisted veins often appearing on legs, are more prevalent in individuals with diabetes. 

Diabetes can worsen varicose veins in a few ways. First, diabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels in the legs, which can make it harder for blood to flow properly. This can lead to pooling of blood in the veins, which can cause them to bulge and become visible. Second, diabetes can also weaken the valves in the veins, which are responsible for preventing blood from flowing backward. When these valves are weak, blood can flow back down the veins, which can further contribute to varicose veins. Finally, diabetes can also cause inflammation, which can irritate the veins and make them more likely to become varicose.

Minimally Invasive Solutions:

At Avis Vascular Center, our interventional radiologists prioritize your comfort and safety through minimally invasive treatments like:

  • Sclerotherapy: A simple yet effective procedure, sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution into the varicose vein, causing it to shrink and fade away. Ideal for smaller veins, it requires minimal recovery time.
  • Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA): This advanced technique uses laser energy to heat and seal the varicose vein from within, resulting in its closure and disappearance. It offers a minimally invasive and effective solution for larger veins.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Procedures:

Reduced discomfort and downtime: Compared to traditional surgery, these procedures require minimal incisions, leading to quicker recovery and reduced pain.

Preserved healthy veins: Unlike surgery, these techniques focus on treating the affected veins, preserving healthy tissue and minimizing the risk of complications.

Improved blood flow: Treatment promotes better blood flow in your legs, alleviating pain, swelling, and fatigue associated with varicose veins.

Enhanced quality of life: By addressing both the physical and aesthetic concerns of varicose veins, these procedures can significantly improve your quality of life.

Personalized Care at Avis Vascular Center:

Our dedicated team understands the unique needs of patients with diabetes and tailors treatment plans accordingly. We offer:

Comprehensive consultations: Our experienced interventional radiologists assess your individual case, taking into account your diabetes management and overall health.

We liaise with your existing healthcare providers to ensure coordinated care and seamless integration of vein treatment into your diabetes management plan.

Holistic approach: We prioritize not only treating the varicose veins but also providing comprehensive support for your diabetes management, including education, nutrition counseling, and weight management guidance.

Empowering You to Take Control:

At Avis Vascular Center, we believe in empowering our patients to make informed decisions about their health. We provide clear explanations of all treatment options, answer your questions, and address your concerns. We are committed to partnering with you every step of the way to achieve optimal results and improve your quality of life.

Don’t let diabetes and varicose veins hold you back. Contact Avis Vascular Center today to schedule a consultation and explore how our minimally invasive treatments can help you regain control of your health and well-being.

Before and After Your Varicose Vein Treatment

If you have varicose veins and have decided to get them removed through the painless and minimally invasive endovenous laser ablation treatment procedure, it is best to know the preparations that you must do before undergoing the procedure and the steps that you must follow after the treatment process as well.

In this blog, we will recommend the best practices that will help you get optimal results from the varicose vein painless laser treatment and also share post-treatment protocols that will not only assist in faster recovery but also ensure the least chances of varicose vein recurrence. Stay with us till the end.

Preparations before the Treatment

During the physical examination in your consultation visit, if the vein specialist suspects that you have varicose veins, he/she will recommend a few examination checks to confirm the presence of varicose veins and check for their exact count and precise location.

The doctor will also ask for your medical history and check if you consume any blood thinners which will probably have to be stopped a few days before the laser treatment of varicose veins.

Before the endovenous laser treatment process, you must be hydrated so it is a good idea to drink plenty of fluids especially water. It is advised that you wear loose-fitting clothes to the hospital on the day of the procedure and carry your compression stockings along.

After the preliminary examination, the vein specialist will use injection for local anaesthesia in the affected area. You will remain awake during the procedure but not feel any pain or discomfort in the area that is being treated. As it might be a little tough for you to drive back home, it is advised to bring a companion (friend or relative) along.

Post-Treatment Care Instructions

Your vein specialist will explain all after-treatment guidelines to you in detail. Below is a summary of the post-laser surgery precautions:

  1. Monitor the incision – A few of you may experience minor bleeding and bruising from the incision. If you notice blood stains on the bandages, raise your legs and apply pressure on the incision. If this does not stop the excessive bleeding, contact your doctor.

    If you also witness minor swelling, apply ice on the incision for 15 minutes. A painkiller may be taken to reduce the discomfort. You may wash the incision with soap and water. Never use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to clean the wound.

  2. Avoid strenuous activities – Do not lift heavy weights or perform any strenuous exercise for at least two weeks from the date of the laser treatment. You may go out for a brisk walk, 20 minute every day is good to ensure proper blood flow and fast-track the healing process.

  3. Take showers – Instead of soaking your legs in hot water, take showers in the first week after the treatment procedure. The water that you bathe with must only be warm and not hot.
  4. Do not sit or stand for long durations – Although you can do your everyday chores, join office, and get back to work soon after your laser surgery, you must avoid sitting or standing for long durations at a stretch. Moving around at frequent intervals aids in improving blood flow.
  5. Wear compression stockings – Compression stockings are support stockings that put additional pressure on the leg veins and thus promote blood flow back to the heart. You must wear compression stockings continuously for at least three days after the laser treatment or as recommended by your vein expert.
  6. Do not miss follow-up appointments – You must never miss your follow-up appointments with your vein specialist. He/She may call you over for ultrasounds checks to monitor the healing progress and to review your medications in a few days after the procedure, ensure to get your check-ups done in a timely manner.

Conclusion

Laser treatment is a quick procedure that is 100% safe and offers a faster recovery rate. To be able to achieve excellent results, always follow the above tips and tricks. Do not forget to speak to your vein specialist for any other precautions that you must take before and after the laser surgery of varicose veins.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala is the best interventional radiologist in Hyderabad, India and is renowned for his whopping high success rate of endovenous laser ablation procedures on varicose veins patients. In his more than two decades of medical practice as a vascular surgeon, he has completed over 40,000+ laser procedures. His patients are happy with his professionalism and totally satisfied with his unmatched medical assistance.

At Avis Vascular Centre, Dr. Rajah V Koppala and his team of vein specialists employ only the USFDA approved treatment procedures of laser treatment and follow all protocols of the American College of Phlebology. Dr. Rajah V Koppala and his team prioritize patient health and focus primarily on their satisfaction. They ensure the highest levels of comfort for patients of all age groups and have made special provisions for non-local patients with round-the-clock assistance for Mediclaim approvals from all leading national insurance agencies.

If you are worried about those swollen and enlarged veins that are visible to be bulging out from the skin surface and experience immense pain and discomfort from them, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Vascular Centre. We begin with a physical examination along with ultrasound scans to know if you will benefit from the laser treatment. For a thorough analysis and best-in-class laser treatment, book your consultation today!

Endovenous Laser Treatment vs. Vein Stripping

Until recently, the surgical and highly invasive procedures of vein stripping and vein ligation were the only feasible treatment methods to ger relief from the bulging, swollen, and painful varicose veins found in the thighs and calves of one or both legs.

In the past few years, with massive developments in medical science and technology, a new treatment procedure called the endovenous laser treatment method has quickly replaced the vein stripping process for the cure and treatment of varicose veins.

In this blog today, let us understand the difference between these two procedures and find out which is more beneficial for you. Stay with us till the very end as we help you choose the ideal treatment process and enable you to get rid of the varicose veins pain and discomfort.

What is Vein Stripping?

Vein stripping is a painful and invasive procedure that requires large cuts to be made for the treatment of varicose veins. In this process, the damaged vein is removed through an incision made behind the knee or in the groin area.

This procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure with general anaesthesia and takes anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes. The recovery time ranges from two to four weeks based on how many veins were removed from where.

What is Endovenous Laser Ablation?

This is a minimally invasive treatment process performed with high-resolution live imaging through a duplex ultrasound scan. As opposed to the vein stripping procedure, patients only require local anaesthesia in EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation). It is a quicker process and has relatively faster recovery times.

A laser fibre is inserted through the small incision made on the skin surface. The thin beam of radiation in the form of laser light is used to heat up and burn off the walls of the damaged veins. The veins collapse and this causes scar tissues within the blood vessels. As a result, the veins seal themselves after which the body redirects the blood to other healthier veins.

 It is a safe procedure and there is only a negligible chance of any side-effects or post-treatment complications such as redness or swelling. Discomfort from the laser treatment, if any, is also known to subside in 5 to 7 days with mild medications. The patient can resume everyday activities in 24 hours but must avoid strenuous exercises.

What are the Advantages of Laser Treatment?

Laser treatment is highly recommended for patients whose varicose veins have turned red, sore or are inflamed (swollen). It is also recommended when the skin over the varicose veins is irritated. There are no large cuts, bruises, stitches, or scar marks.

Patients experience faster recovery as the endovenous laser ablation is a minimally invasive procedure and there are rare chances of infection or bleeding after the treatment. Also, as the EVLA treatment is performed with local anaesthesia as an outpatient procedure, it saves the patient from expensive hospital stays.

All damaged veins can be treated in a single session and the patient can go back home on the same day. There are minimal chances of recurrence that too in patients who do not take the precautions recommended by the doctor complemented by a healthy lifestyle that includes nutritious food and moderate exercise.

Conclusion

Laser treatment is the safest and by far the best available treatment option for varicose veins. It is not only painless and minimally invasive but also quick and delivers guaranteed results even in extreme cases or for patients with a medical history of other health conditions such as blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala is renowned for having cured varicose veins for over 12000 patients from all across India and even different parts of the World. He is a trained and qualified interventional radiologist with 24+ years of experience. Dr. Rajah V Koppala is currently practicing at the Avis Vascular Centre, Hyderabad and aims to offer the most advanced yet cost-effective treatment to one and all.

Avis Vascular Centre has the latest medical equipment. All doctors perform only the USFDA approved procedures and work in strict accordance with the protocols from the American College of Phlebology.

Apart from a friendly support staff and highly qualified doctors on the panel, Avis Vascular Centre has partnered with all leading national insurance providers to offer instant Mediclaim assistance to all local, non-local, and international patients.

Are you suffering from varicose vein discomfort? Are you looking for immediate relief from the symptoms? Get smooth and pain-free legs, book your consultation with the highly acclaimed interventional radiologist Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Vascular Centre today!