Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesCareWhen to Get Medical HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Care
When to Get Medical Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Peripheral edema is swelling in the feet, ankles, and legs. It can occur in one or both of your lower limbs.If you have diabetes, you need to take extra precautions when you have edema.
Fluid can build up when tiny blood vessels are damaged or when they leak into surrounding tissues. The result is swelling.
People withdiabetesoften have problems with blood flow. When blood doesn’t circulate well, wounds heal slowly or not at all. Swelling makes it harder for wounds to heal.That’s why it’s so important to control it.
This article explains how diabetes and other health conditions could cause your lower legs to swell. It also offers some advice on how to treat it and when to get medical care.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
If you have edema, you may notice:
Your legs may swell for reasons that have nothing to do with diabetes. Some examples are:
If you have swelling in one leg or foot but not the other, it may be:
Diabetes-Related Causes
Swelling can also come fromheart disease, blood flow problems, liver disease, andkidney disease. Diabetes can increase the risk of each of these conditions.
Somediabetes medications, like Actos (pioglitazone), can cause swelling. They may also cause heart problems.
People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or heart failure. If diabetes has damaged your nerves, you might not notice the symptoms.That’s why it’s vital to let your healthcare provider know if your legs or feet swell.
RecapSwollen legs or feet may or may not be related to diabetes. Your diet, activity level, hormone changes, and even the weather can make you swell up. Other health conditions–some of them serious–could be the reason. To find out why you’re swelling, see your healthcare provider.
Recap
Swollen legs or feet may or may not be related to diabetes. Your diet, activity level, hormone changes, and even the weather can make you swell up. Other health conditions–some of them serious–could be the reason. To find out why you’re swelling, see your healthcare provider.
Here are some steps you can take to bring down swelling:
If you have a wound,cellulitis(a skin infection), scaling, or itching, make sure your care plan treats those symptoms.
Seek medical help as soon as you can if:
New swelling in one or both legs needs urgent care. Edema in only one leg could be a sign of DVT, which may be life-threatening.
Call 911 if you have shortness of breath or chest pain.
Summary
Peripheral edema is fluid buildup in your lower legs or feet. If you have diabetes, changes to your blood vessels may be partly to blame for swelling. Your medications or related health conditions could also cause the problem.
It’s possible that something besides diabetes is making your lower legs swell. To find out for sure, talk it over with your healthcare provider. Don’t ignore swelling in your feet or lower legs because a serious health condition could be developing.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPeople with diabetes often retain water. Diabetes itself might or might not be the cause.Fluid retention is a sign of heart failure and kidney damage. Both can affect people with diabetes.The diabetes medication Actos (pioglitazone) can also cause fluid buildup.Gravity makes lower-leg swelling worse. To reduce it, raise the affected foot or feet. If swelling keeps coming back, try cutting the amount of sodium in your diet.If your feet sometimes swell but it goes away overnight, there’s probably no cause for concern. Call your healthcare provider if it lasts longer than a day, happens regularly, affects only one limb, or comes with other symptoms.
People with diabetes often retain water. Diabetes itself might or might not be the cause.Fluid retention is a sign of heart failure and kidney damage. Both can affect people with diabetes.The diabetes medication Actos (pioglitazone) can also cause fluid buildup.
People with diabetes often retain water. Diabetes itself might or might not be the cause.
Fluid retention is a sign of heart failure and kidney damage. Both can affect people with diabetes.The diabetes medication Actos (pioglitazone) can also cause fluid buildup.
Gravity makes lower-leg swelling worse. To reduce it, raise the affected foot or feet. If swelling keeps coming back, try cutting the amount of sodium in your diet.
If your feet sometimes swell but it goes away overnight, there’s probably no cause for concern. Call your healthcare provider if it lasts longer than a day, happens regularly, affects only one limb, or comes with other symptoms.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Foot, leg, and ankle swelling.MedlinePlus.Edema.National Institute of of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes and foot problems.MedlinePlus.Swelling.Trayes KP, Studdiford, JS, Pickle S, Tully AS.Edema: Diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2013 Jul 15;88(2):102-110.Wu SC, Crews RT, Skratsky M, et al.Control of lower extremity edema in patients with diabetes: Double blind randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of mild compression diabetic socks.Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2017;127:35-43. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2017.02.025National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Foot, leg, and ankle swelling.MedlinePlus.Edema.National Institute of of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes and foot problems.MedlinePlus.Swelling.Trayes KP, Studdiford, JS, Pickle S, Tully AS.Edema: Diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2013 Jul 15;88(2):102-110.Wu SC, Crews RT, Skratsky M, et al.Control of lower extremity edema in patients with diabetes: Double blind randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of mild compression diabetic socks.Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2017;127:35-43. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2017.02.025National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Foot, leg, and ankle swelling.MedlinePlus.Edema.National Institute of of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes and foot problems.MedlinePlus.Swelling.Trayes KP, Studdiford, JS, Pickle S, Tully AS.Edema: Diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2013 Jul 15;88(2):102-110.Wu SC, Crews RT, Skratsky M, et al.Control of lower extremity edema in patients with diabetes: Double blind randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of mild compression diabetic socks.Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2017;127:35-43. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2017.02.025National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
MedlinePlus.Foot, leg, and ankle swelling.
MedlinePlus.Edema.
National Institute of of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes and foot problems.
MedlinePlus.Swelling.
Trayes KP, Studdiford, JS, Pickle S, Tully AS.Edema: Diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2013 Jul 15;88(2):102-110.
Wu SC, Crews RT, Skratsky M, et al.Control of lower extremity edema in patients with diabetes: Double blind randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of mild compression diabetic socks.Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2017;127:35-43. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2017.02.025
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
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