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Posted 9/13/2012 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
I am a diabetic and I have been experiencing swelling in my legs. It has gotten so bad that even during those hot summer days I could not wear anything that exposes my lower legs. What can I do for the swelling?
Posted 9/13/2012 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hello enJOY and welcome to the Forum. My first answer to your question is "see your doctor". Swelling can be from several reasons and may be related to diabetes or not. Are you on BP or heart medication? What diabetes medication are you on? Are you overweight? Are you able to get much exercise?
Posted 9/13/2012 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, what Lanie said. Also, try to put your feet on a hassock or foot rest every time you sit down. Leg swelling is almost always caused by retention of fluids in the legs, and elevating them helps. Walking also often helps, because the muscle activity helps to pump the fluids back to the abdomen and heart.
Posted 9/27/2012 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Only my right ankle and foot swell. It makes the neuropathy pain worse. I get it when i have to stand or sit with legs down for even an hour. It takes days sometimes for the swelling to go away. It feels like a ripe mellon is about to burst. I have had this problem for years, even tho I was diagnosed 3 months ago with diabetes. I still have questions about how long I have had diabetes. Why my urin showed high sugar when my blood didnt? Hope you are not in bad pain enJOY. Have a great evening....Cathy
Posted 9/27/2012 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
I have been elavating my legs and find some relief but I can;t stay like that all day. i try to walk a bit but don't last. have you heard of any other options to help circilate the blood?
Posted 9/27/2012 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
enJOY, can you please say if you're under a doctor's care?  What medications are you taking?  Treating the symptoms like swollen legs is one thing but you need to find out exactly why they are swollen in the first place.  What does your doctor say?
Posted 9/27/2012 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
I am in a doctor's care but I am presently trying to control it with diet and no meds. My doctor says to keep getting up and walk around every 20 minutes to help with the swelling
Posted 9/27/2012 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
You mean control the diabetes with diet and no meds?  What are your blood sugar readings, morning fasting, post prandial, etc. Have you had an A1c? 

I'm just wondering why the doctor is not more concerned.  Have you had any tests for heart or kidney function?  There must be a reason for the swelling.  That's what I'm trying to figure out.  Elevating the legs should help especially for those who are on their feet all day, but sitting down all day isn't good either.  What is the reason that you say you can't walk around for awhile?

Posted 9/28/2012 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
went to the doctor and he is sending me to a specialist for vascular stuff. He thinks it's my circilation. Some of my veins are sticking up and makes the swelling more. I get up to walk a lot and try to not sit down too much. He thinks I might have to go on blood thinners but I don't like taking any meds if I can help it. I'll see what this other doctor says
Posted 9/28/2012 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you're going to see a specialist to find out what's causing the swelling because that's not normal to have it over an extended period of time. Good luck with the appointment.
Posted 10/1/2012 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
so I've been talking with ANYONE who is willing to listen to me about my swollen legs. Still waiting to get into the specialist, but had a friend mention to me that their father's friend just bought this pump for helping to circilate your blood. It's called a venowave. Has anyone heard of this thing?....I get very unsure of something unless I hear about people knowing about it. Does anyone know anything?
Posted 10/1/2012 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
I have not heard of it but then I don't know of anyone with a swollen legs problem. I believe my original advice is still the way to go. You need to find out why your legs are swelling. Getting any device for the lonr reason of treating your swollen legs is only treating the symptom, not the cause. Swollen legs could be a sign of heart disease or kidney disease or other health problems. Only medical tests can show you and the doctor what is causing the swelling. I hope you are able to see that specialist as soon as possible. If I were you I would insist on an immediate appointment and if this one that your doctor is recommending can't see you this week, then find one yourself. This is my opinion and I'm not a doctor.
Here's a link to the Mayo Clinic's page about this:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/leg-
swelling/MY00592/DSECTION=causes

EnJOY, what has your blood sugar been for morning fasting and post prandial?
Posted 10/2/2012 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
thank you so much for your help LanieG! I have an appointment with the specialist tomorrow and we will get to the bottom of this. I agree, I need to find out what the cause is before trying any treatment. My blood sugar level in the morning is around 7 almost every day, the odd day it is around 9.
Posted 10/3/2012 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
I would think your doctor would want your blood sugar lower than that.  That would be high enough to be on meds if that's fasting.
Posted 10/3/2012 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, when I checked my level this morning it was 6.7 so I am still feeling I can do this with diet and excersise. Went to the specialist and he is sending me for a doppler ultrasound as he thinks I might have some blood clot in my leg and that is why it is swollen.
Posted 10/3/2012 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
I hope this test comes out with something although I hope it's not a clot. There's got to be a reason behind the swelling. Have they done complete blood (lab) tests for kidney, liver and heart function?

Check out this website for more complete information about diabetes:


www.bloodsugar101.com
Posted 10/4/2012 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
thank you for your message and yes he is doing a complete blood work. I will check out the website. thank u. The more I am reading the more I think it's a blood clot...i will wait and see
Posted 10/5/2012 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
I've been told by people to get compression stockings for my swelling. Are you familiar with them?
Posted 10/5/2012 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I'm familiar with them. They are often suggested for swollen legs. I bought a pair that are 'travel socks' to prevent swelling while flying. This happens to some people on long flights and I was doing a lot of flying. Many places sell them, including some websites. As a temporary help, they would be fine but you might mention it to your doctor.
Posted 10/9/2012 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
So I was up north with my friend who is using this "venowave" pump so I decided to try it and right away I noticed some of the swelling had gone down. Has anyone used or heard of this machine?
Posted 10/9/2012 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
This is the second time you've mentioned this apparatus.  It's like you're trying to advertise it.  Do you have any reason to do this? 
Posted 10/9/2012 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Not at all, I am trying to help my swollen legs and the only other person who can relate to me as you mentioned earlier that you do not have swollen legs is my friend. I am very uncomfotable with how i feel and how i look. I want to try anything right now and i feel like all i do is wait to either try to get into a doctor or wait for results....guess i'm also nervous when i don't know many people using the product
Posted 10/9/2012 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
EnJOY, it's very puzzling that your legs have been swollen for nearly a month (at least when you first posted here last month) and it's taken so long to find out why.  A week ago you said you went to a specialist and he was sending you for an ultrasound.  Why couldn't you have been seen earlier and had the tests done earlier?  This could be life threatening if it's a clot.  There are other serious causes of swelling too, and I don't understand how any doctor would put off these tests to find the cause.
Posted 10/10/2012 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
Lanie you are absolutely right and I feel I am most to blame. I don't speak out for myself enough and I should not of let this go this long. I am calling the doctor now and I am going to see what I can do to get on this. Some days I feel stronger than others and I let things take over me instead of doing something about it. Thanks.
Posted 10/10/2012 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes we aren't assertive enough and trust our doctors too much to do the right thing because, after all, we're not doctors and "they" are and we think they know what's best.  But - when we see something isn't right, we need to speak up and that's what you should do.  If the doctor even suspected a blood clot, you should have been in the hospital and on blood thinners.  Heart tests, kidney and liver tests.  You need to find out why your legs are swelling.  Good luck.
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