Diabetes and Edema

Edema is a medical condition caused by the abnormal fluid retention in the spaces between the body's cells or in the circulatory system. 

This medical condition causes puffiness and swelling in several areas of the body, including legs, arms, feet, hands, lungs, heart, or stomach area. 

Is there a connection between edema and diabetes? Let’s find out. 

There are basically three main types of edema associated with diabetes - macular edema, pulmonary edema, and foot and leg edema. The causes of diabetic edema include: 

• Acute liver failure, cirrhosis
• Renal artery stenosis
• Chronic hepatitis
• Cardiovascular complications
• Nephrotic Syndrome or acute renal failure
• Medications used to treat diabetes

Other factors such as premenstrual fluid retention, thiamine deficiency, protein losing enteropathy, pregnancy and acute anaphylaxis, also contribute to diabetic edema. 

Diabetes and Edema (Macular): 

Macular edema is a condition in which the macular tissue area, near the center of the retina gets filled with fluid. This area is mainly responsible for vision. 

Macular edema caused from diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. The vision loss can progress, leading to eventual blindness. 

There are two types of macular edema, focal macular edema and diffuse macular edema. The first one is caused by vascular abnormalities, and can be treated using focal laser treatment. 

The second type is caused by dilated retinal capillaries. This condition can be treated with grid laser treatment, which is used to seal the leakages. 

Diabetes and Edema (Pulmonary): 

Pulmonary edema may be caused due to cardiovascular disease/ complications or use of diabetic medications. 

According to September 2001 issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, pulmonary edema treatment involves placing a ‘catheter’ to drain the fluids. 

Diabetes and Edema (Foot and Leg): 

Foot and leg edema may be caused by cardiovascular disease, venous insufficiency, liver conditions, cardiomyopathy, or kidney complications.  

This condition may increase the already high risk of non-healing wounds for the diabetic patient. Treatment includes manual decongestive therapy and diuretics which drains fluids out of affected areas. 

Subsequent to medications and decongestive therapy, compression garments or hosiery may also be prescribed.  It is important to remember that the edema resulting as a complication of diabetes is not the same as lymphedema. 

Swelling from lymphedema is a result of distortion of the lymph system or injury, damage, trauma or destruction to the lymph system due to infections, lymph node removal, and radiation treatments, to mention a few causes.  

Lymphedema can be treated using manual decongestive therapy, compression garments and compression bandages, no diuretics. Others treatment methods such as compression pump therapy and surgical management may also be used. 

If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels under control to help reduce the risk of edema and other diseases. 

Inform your doctor immediately if you experience sudden changes in your vision or swelling in your feet or legs.  

For more information about edema treatments, read these articles: Edema Diet: Foods to Avoid, Leg Edema Treatment, and Types of Edema.