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What Causes Swelling On The Leg While Suffering From Diabetes?
My husband is a diabetic and yesterday we noticed that there was a bruise on the inside of his right foot. He hasn t hurt himself anyway that we can remember. Just a few minutes ago I noticed that his foot is very swollen and there is another bruised area on the other side of his foot. How concerned do we need to be about this since he is a diabetic? He never has had anything like this before.
Mon, 5 Jun 2017
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Well, being diabetic complicates this issue definitely. This may be a beginning of leg cellulitis which is the inflammation of subcutaneous tissues and may develop into a diabetic foot or even diabetic gangrene so any swelling, redness, or pain in legs, in someone who has diabetes should be evaluated by medical professionals. Antibiotics may have to be started as soon as possible to prevent spreading of infection. He should do at least basic blood tests and blood sugar to see if there is a significant infection or not. Other causes include deep vein thrombosis or lymph edema and these should be checked with an ultrasound exam.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Ivan R. Rommstein
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Well, being diabetic complicates this issue definitely. This may be a beginning of leg cellulitis which is the inflammation of subcutaneous tissues and may develop into a diabetic foot or even diabetic gangrene so any swelling, redness, or pain in legs, in someone who has diabetes should be evaluated by medical professionals. Antibiotics may have to be started as soon as possible to prevent spreading of infection. He should do at least basic blood tests and blood sugar to see if there is a significant infection or not. Other causes include deep vein thrombosis or lymph edema and these should be checked with an ultrasound exam.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Ivan R. Rommstein
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