Integrated Naturopathy and Yoga Module in the Management of Lower Limb Peripheral Arterial Disease in a Diabetic Individual: A Case Report

Introduction: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common vascular complication in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), characterized by reduced blood flow to the lower limbs, leading to pain, impaired mobility, and decreased quality of life (QoL).This case report explores the role of an integrated naturopathy and yoga (INY) protocol in the management of diabetic PAD, an area with limited evidence on complementary therapeutic approaches.Case presentation: A 57-year-old female with a 10-year history of T2DM and a 4-year history of PAD (stage IIb) presented with bilateral calf pain, intermittent claudication, and reduced ankle-brachial index (ABI).Clinical examination revealed diminished peripheral pulses, cold extremities, and delayed capillary refill time.Baseline investigations showed ABI of 0.89 (left) and 0.80 (right), elevated fasting blood sugar (FBS 208 mg/dL), and dyslipidemia.Walking capacity assessment revealed a baseline claudication distance of approximately 100 meters.Intervention and outcome: The patient underwent a 10-day inpatient INY intervention including hydrotherapy (revulsive leg baths, hip baths, spinal baths, hot arm, and foot baths), mud therapy, therapeutic massage, yoga asanas, pranayama, meditation, and a structured naturopathic diet.Post-intervention assessment showed marked improvements: ABI normalized to 1.00 (left) and 0.98 (right), FBS reduced to 126 mg/dL, total cholesterol decreased from 235 to 188 mg/dL, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain reduced from 9/10 to 2/10, and VascQOL-6 scores improved from 9 to 28.Walking capacity improved significantly, with claudication distance increasing from approximately 100 meters at baseline to over 400 meters post-intervention.These improvements were sustained at the 3-month follow-up with no adverse events.Conclusion: This case demonstrates the potential benefits of INY as an adjunctive approach in managing diabetic PAD.The integrative treatment improved vascular health, metabolic parameters, pain reduction, and QoL, suggesting its broader applicability in lifestyle-related vascular disorders.