Peripheral Arterial Disease in Diabetes Mellitus and Physiotherapy Management

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is prevalent and contributed to high mortality rate. The hyperglycemia in diabetic individual leads to low-grade inflammation, vasoconstriction, arterial stiffness, endothelial dysfunction and thrombotic abnormalities. These placing them at higher risk of developing peripheral arterial disease which compromised the blood perfusion, particularly the lower extremity. Despite the development of peripheral arterial disease in Diabetes Mellitus can leads to wide array of complications and leaves the individual with great disability, however, various physiotherapy interventions have been supported by previous literature to be able to improve the functional outcomes and quality of life. This first part of this review paper focused on the pathophysiology of peripheral arterial disease in Diabetes Mellitus, while the second part focused on the various physiotherapy interventions for improving the functions and outcomes in diabetic individual with peripheral arterial disease.