What Should You Do About Swelling in the Lower Legs Due to Diabetes?
Disease description:
After being diagnosed with diabetes, my lower legs swell every day, as if they’ve been soaked in water. What should I do about lower-leg edema caused by diabetes?
Doctor's answer (2)
Dr. Zhang Nan
The following are several treatment approaches for leg edema in patients with diabetes:
1. Use of ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) to reduce urinary protein excretion;
2. Active blood glucose control;
3. Renal protection—for example, using Jinshuibao (a traditional Chinese medicine);
4. Timely initiation of dialysis therapy if the patient develops uremia;
5. Administration of microvascular vasodilating agents.
