Which pressure is more reliable than ankle pressure in diabetic patients?

In diabetic patients, toe pressure is considered more reliable than ankle pressure for assessing peripheral arterial disease and vascular health. This is primarily due to the microvascular complications associated with diabetes, which can lead to calcification of the aorta and arteries, particularly in the lower extremities.

When ankle pressure is evaluated, it may not accurately reflect the patient's true vascular status due to this calcification, potentially resulting in falsely elevated ankle-brachial index (ABI) values. Toe pressure measurements, on the other hand, are typically not affected by arterial calcification in the same way because they assess blood flow in smaller, more peripheral vessels that are less likely to undergo such changes. Consequently, toe pressure can provide a more accurate indication of distal arterial health, making it a better tool for evaluating vascular status in individuals with diabetes.

Other options, such as radial, brachial, and popliteal pressures, do not focus specifically on the distal vasculature necessitated in diabetic assessments, thus limiting their reliability compared to toe pressure in this context.