Type 2 Diabetes Living With The Relationship Between Peripheral Edema and Diabetes By Elizabeth Woolley Elizabeth Woolley is a patient advocate and writer who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Learn about our editorial process Elizabeth Woolley Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Rochelle Collins, DO on May 07, 2020 linkedin Rochelle Collins, DO, is a board-certified family medicine doctor currently practicing in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Review Board Rochelle Collins, DO Updated on September 17, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Management When to See a Doctor Peripheral edema is swelling from the collection of fluid in the feet, ankles, and legs. It can occur in one or both of your lower extremities. If you have diabetes, you need to take extra precautions when you have edema. Edema is the result of damage to capillaries or increased pressure causing capillaries to leak fluid into surrounding tissues and result in swelling. People with diabetes often have circulation problems that can cause wounds to heal slowly or not at all. Edema makes it more difficult for wounds to heal. Therefore, controlling edema is essential. Verywell / Emily Roberts Symptoms Stretched skin or shiny skinSwelling or puffinessPitting or non-pitting, indicating different causes Causes There are many common causes of edema that are fairly benign. Some examples of more common causes of peripheral edema, not specifically related to diabetes, include: Physical inactivityStanding or sitting for long periods of timeSurgeryBurnsHot weatherPregnancyMenstruationMenopauseContraceptive pillsCertain medicationsExcessive salt intakeMalnutritionPoor diet Edema may present in only one extremity (rather than both) due to: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT)CellulitisOsteomyelitisTraumaRuptured Baker's cystLymphatic obstruction Peripheral edema can also be associated with more serious conditions—many of which can be associated with diabetes complications, such as heart disease, venous insufficiency, liver disease, and kidney disease. Certain diabetes medications can also cause edema, specifically the thiazolidinedione drugs Actos (pioglitazone) and Avandia (rosiglitazone maleate). These drugs have come under a cloud because of their potential cardiac adverse effects, and should not be used in anyone who has had a history of congestive heart failure. People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or heart failure (such as congestive heart failure). If the patient has neuropathy, the symptoms of heart disease or failure may not be felt. It is important for a patient with diabetes to alert their physician when they experience the signs and symptoms of edema. Management If you experience edema, let your doctor know so he or she can rule out serious complications. Here are some things you can do to help manage foot and leg edema. Elevate the affected leg or foot throughout the dayWear support stockings (and check with your doctor if you have the arterial disease)ExerciseAdhere to a low-sodium dietIf you have a wound, cellulitis, dermatitis, scaling, or itching make sure these are addressed in your care plan Call your doctor as soon as possible if: Swelling does not improve or worsensYou have liver disease and experience swelling in your legs or abdomenYour swollen extremity is red or warmYou have a feverYou notice decreased urine outputYou are pregnant and have sudden moderate to severe swelling. When to See a Doctor New onset edema—either bilateral (in both extremities) or unilateral (in one extremity)—should be evaluated urgently. Unilateral edema may indicate an urgent need to be evaluated for DVT. Call 911 if you experience shortness of breath or chest pain. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! We know healthy eating is key to help manage diabetes, but that doesn't make it easy. Our free nutrition guide is here to help. Sign up and receive your free copy! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article 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. Updated April 26, 2019. Diabetes.co.uk. Swelling (edema) and diabetes – swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. Updated January 15, 2019. MedlinePlus. Edema. National Institute of of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes and foot problems. Updated January 2017. MedlinePlus. Swelling. Updated October 8, 2018. 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. Updated February 2017.