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Suggest Treatment For Water Blisters On The Leg While Having Diabetes
Posted on
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 20 Jul 2016
Answered on
Wed, 10 Aug 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi I am 69 years old and have diabetes and am on insulin. Recently I am getting water blisters on my left leg. I am a right leg amputee. Also have developed a bursitis bump on my elbow. All of this is on left side of my body. I have had left leg tested and have only fair blood flow-not good blood flow. My left foot is very red. Please tell me what is wrong. An attending nurse of mine said that my body is trying to get rid of water.
Brief Answer:
infection is possible...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
diabetes with peripheral artery disease is a very bad combination which predisposes to infections. A very red foot is suggestive of infection (erysipelas or cellulitis). If you also have fever then the diagnosis is almost certain.
You'd better visit a doctor at once to confirm or excluded this diagnosis because it's a very serious one particularly for a patient like you. The elbow bursitis does not seem relevant. The blisters might be a sign of water retention as the nurse suggested particularly if your leg is very swollen.
So in conclusion urgent medical assessment is required to exclude (or confirm) serious infection.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
infection is possible...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
diabetes with peripheral artery disease is a very bad combination which predisposes to infections. A very red foot is suggestive of infection (erysipelas or cellulitis). If you also have fever then the diagnosis is almost certain.
You'd better visit a doctor at once to confirm or excluded this diagnosis because it's a very serious one particularly for a patient like you. The elbow bursitis does not seem relevant. The blisters might be a sign of water retention as the nurse suggested particularly if your leg is very swollen.
So in conclusion urgent medical assessment is required to exclude (or confirm) serious infection.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How does one handle/heal PAD
Brief Answer:
by treating the risk factors and complications
Detailed Answer:
PAD can be treated mostly by reducing the risk factors like glucose control, arterial hypertension, cholesterol levels, smoking, etc and treating the complications (infections for example). Light physical activity may help. If the patient has extensive PAD then exercise might be difficult.
If a large artery is nearly occluded then a vascular surgeon may provide additional options (surgical correction of the occlusion). Finally, if the small arteries are involved there is not much the surgeon can do.
Kind Regards!
by treating the risk factors and complications
Detailed Answer:
PAD can be treated mostly by reducing the risk factors like glucose control, arterial hypertension, cholesterol levels, smoking, etc and treating the complications (infections for example). Light physical activity may help. If the patient has extensive PAD then exercise might be difficult.
If a large artery is nearly occluded then a vascular surgeon may provide additional options (surgical correction of the occlusion). Finally, if the small arteries are involved there is not much the surgeon can do.
Kind Regards!
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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