Type 2 Diabetes Living With The Relationship Between Peripheral Edema and Diabetes By Elizabeth Woolley Elizabeth Woolley Elizabeth Woolley is a patient advocate and writer who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 28, 2023 Medically reviewed by Danielle Weiss, MD Medically reviewed by Danielle Weiss, MD LinkedIn Dr. Danielle Weiss is double board-certified in internal medicine and endocrinology. She is the founder of the Center for Hormonal Health and Well-Being in San Diego, California. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents 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 with diabetes often 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 Symptoms If you have edema, you may notice: Stretched or shiny skinSwelling or puffinessSkin that pits (stays indented) when you press itSwelling that stays firm and doesn't pit Causes Your legs may swell for reasons that have nothing to do with diabetes. Some examples are: Not being active enough Standing or sitting a long time Surgery Burns Hot weather Pregnancy Menstruation Menopause Birth control pills Medications Too much salt in your diet Poor diet If you have swelling in one leg or foot but not the other, it may be: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) Cellulitis Osteomyelitis Trauma Ruptured Baker's cyst Lymphatic blockage Diabetes-Related Causes Swelling can also come from heart disease, blood flow problems, liver disease, and kidney disease. Diabetes can increase the risk of each of these conditions. Some diabetes medications can cause swelling. Actos (pioglitazone) and Avandia (rosiglitazone maleate) both cause swelling. They may also cause heart problems. These medications should not be used by anyone with congestive heart failure. This is a condition in which the heart doesn't pump well, causing blood and fluid to back up into tissues. 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. 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. Care Here are some steps you can take to bring down swelling: Elevate the swollen leg or foot Wear support stockings Exercise Opt for a low-sodium diet 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: The swelling does not improve or gets worseYou have liver disease and your legs or abdomen swellYour swollen area is red or warmYou have a feverYou're urinating lessYou have arterial disease and swellingYou are pregnant and have sudden moderate to severe swelling. When to Get Medical Help 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 Questions Does diabetes cause water retention? 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 medications Actos (pioglitazone) and Avandia (rosiglitazone) can also cause fluid buildup. How do you reduce swelling in the feet and ankles? 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. When should I be concerned about swollen feet? 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 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to 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.2017.02.025 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. By Elizabeth Woolley Elizabeth Woolley is a patient advocate and writer who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit