There may be a variety of causes for your swollen feet and ankles. To check for symptoms of damage and to discuss any further medical issues you may be having or prescription drugs you might be taking that could affect swollen feet, speak with your doctor. Diabetes is one prevalent medical issue that can be the root cause. Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the body’s capacity to produce or react to insulin and results in high blood sugar levels. In the US, this illness is extremely common.
What are the different types of Diabetes?
Different forms of diabetes can be diagnose in individuals. Regarding its causes and treatments, each kind of diabetes is distinct.
- An autoimmune condition, type 1 diabetes. The pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin, are attack by the immune system. Most often, this form of diabetes runs in families.
- When your body develop insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes results, and your blood glucose levels rise. Your body may eventually become unable to manufacture insulin. Although lifestyle decisions can cause this, if you are genetically predispose to type 2 diabetes or obesity, it is more likely to happen.
- When your blood sugar level is over normal but not high enough to be diagnose as diabetic, it is said to have prediabetes. Similar to type 2 diabetes, this can be brought on by genetic predispositions and lifestyle decisions.
- During pregnancy, gestational diabetes can develop. The majority of the time, glucose intolerance in pregnant women disappears after delivery. However, people who have gestational diabetes are more likely to later develop diabetes.
Why do people with Diabetes have swelling feet and ankles?
In those with diabetes, poor blood circulation frequently results in swollen feet and ankles. The accumulation of extra fluid in body tissue is what causes swelling in the feet and ankles. Edoema, also known as swelling, is frequently brought on by an underlying condition such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or diabetes. Although the accumulation of fluid can occur everywhere on the body, it most frequently occurs in the hands, arms, legs, feet, and ankles. Among them is oedema.
- Fatigue
- More frequent urination and thirst
- Heightened hunger
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- The eyes or nerves gets harm
Additionally, eating salty meals, spending too much time in one posture, and hormonal fluctuations can all cause swelling.
Treatment for Diabetes-related swelling of feet and ankles
You might wish to try some at-home cures if you have swollen feet or ankles due to diabetes. Following are some remedies:
- Apply compression socks: Your legs, feet, and ankles will receive more blood flow with the assistance of compression socks, which will lessen any swelling. Compression socks can be bought through a pharmacy, a medical supply store, or an online merchant.
- Put your feet up: To reduce the swelling, raise your feet higher than your heart. If you can’t raise your foot above your heart, consider using an ottoman to just barely raise it.
- Regularly moving around: To minimise oedema and enhance blood circulation, exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week is a terrific idea. It’s also an effective way to control weight and blood sugar levels.
- Get thinner: If advised by a doctor, losing weight can help with oedema and make it simpler to keep blood sugar levels normal. Poor blood circulation is less likely to happen when blood sugar levels are within a normal range.
- Limit your salt intake: Foods high in salt might exacerbate oedema.
- Make more movement: Try to walk around as much as you can throughout the day, especially if you have a desk job. To get your circulation flowing, try to get up and walk around at least once each hour.
While you may want to integrate some of these at home if you have diabetes, you should also discuss your symptoms and how to treat them with your doctor. Diabetes management will lessen discomfort and reduce swelling in your feet.
Conclusion
Foot swelling is a typical sign of diabetes. Your blood vessels may be impact by high blood sugar, which may cause fluid to collect in your feet and ankles. Additionally, it might harm your nerves, making foot ailments harder to detect. This may cause more fluid to accumulate while your body works to mend them.
The oedema brought on by diabetes may also be exacerbated by blood clots (which can be deadly) and some drugs. Swelling can be reduced with exercise and elevated feet. Your best option to prevent retention of water is to work with your healthcare team to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.