Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, refers to a group of chronic conditions that affect glucose (blood sugar) levels due to problems with the way the body produces or uses the hormone insulin. In rare cases, diabetes can cause a complication called diabetic blisters, also known as diabetic blisters or diabetic blisters.
Diabetic blisters often appear on the feet, hands, arms, or lower legs. Although it's not entirely clear what causes diabetic blisters, researchers believe they are usually the result of a failure to control blood sugar levels. It is also more common in people with diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain).
In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about diabetes blisters, including symptoms, causes, treatment options, and more.
Photo collage by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health; getty images
Symptoms of blisters due to diabetes
The following are typical symptoms of blisters caused by uncontrolled diabetes, including their appearance, body location, and associated sensations.
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Diabetic blisters are fluid-filled sacs with no surrounding redness or swelling. Many people liken it to blisters from a burn. Most people get more than one at a time.
Blisters from diabetes tend to be much larger than other types of blisters. They can reach up to 10 centimeters (cm) in size.
location
Diabetic blisters are especially common on the feet. They also sometimes appear on the hands, arms, and lower legs.
Onset of symptoms
Diabetic blisters typically appear after blood sugar levels are too high for a long period of time. There is no specific timeline, but it could take months or years.
Once diabetic blisters begin to form, it only takes a few days for them to burst. They may seem to appear suddenly, without warning signs or associated causes (unlike, for example, blisters caused by burns or friction).
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Diabetic bullous disease is a non-inflammatory, generally painless condition. Most people with diabetic blisters do not experience associated symptoms such as tingling, tenderness, or itching.
When to see a health care provider
If you think your blisters are due to diabetes, you should follow up with your diabetes care team. There is no specific test to diagnose bullous diabetes, but your health care provider may perform a skin biopsy (taking a skin sample for analysis in a laboratory) or additional tests to rule out other possible explanations. Serum (blood) tests may also be done to evaluate blood sugar levels.
Your doctor, podiatrist, endocrinologist, and/or nutritionist can help you manage the blisters themselves and prevent them in the future. In addition to treating blisters, continuing to see your health care provider can help you manage your blood sugar and prevent complications.
If you develop blisters and any of the following occur, see your health care provider right away:
- Signs of infection, such as discharge of pus or warm skin at the affected area
- Fever
- Open wounds that do not resolve on their own
Blisters caused by other conditions
Besides diabetes, many diseases can cause blisters. Some examples include:
- Burns, including sunburns
- eczema
- allergy
- Reaction to poisonous plants
- Certain viruses, such as herpes simplex
- Cutaneous (skin) infections
- Some autoimmune diseases, such as pemphigus (which causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the skin)
Why does diabetes cause blisters?
The exact cause of diabetic blisters is not yet known. Many researchers claim that this condition is caused by damage to blood vessels and nerves in the feet (or other affected areas) due to persistently high glucose levels.
Over time, high blood sugar can cause diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This is a type of nerve damage that causes numbness, pain, tingling, and stabbing sensations in the limbs, hands, and feet. It also negatively affects circulation throughout the body. These complications can cause changes to the skin, including blisters in some people.
How to Treat Blisters Caused by Diabetes
Diabetic blisters usually go away on their own within two to six weeks without scarring or other complications. However, they often tend to reappear in the same area of the body.
While the blister is healing, you should take steps to prevent infection, such as keeping it clean and dry, wearing loose-fitting shoes that do not touch the blister area, and applying a bandage over the blister. Avoid popping the blisters yourself as this may increase the chance of infection.
The best way to treat diabetes blisters is to treat the overall symptoms of diabetes. This includes effectively managing your condition through nutrition, exercise and/or medication, as advised by your healthcare provider, to control your blood sugar levels. This will help prevent future blisters from forming.
Complications from uncontrolled diabetes and blisters
Diabetic blisters are usually harmless. In rare cases, unresolved blisters can cause serious skin complications, such as ulcers (open sores). This may lead to infection, require surgical intervention such as debridement and wound dressing, or even require amputation if left untreated for a long period of time.
Meanwhile, uncontrolled diabetes and persistently high blood sugar levels can lead to a number of serious and even life-threatening complications. These may include:
- Heart disease, heart attack, and stroke
- Eye problems, including glaucoma, cataracts, and vision loss
- Infections, especially skin and oral infections
- kidney damage
- idiot
- blood vessel damage
- foot problems
- Osteoporosis (loss of bone density and mass)
Living well even with diabetes and blisters
Here's how to protect your feet from common complications from diabetes:
- Wash and dry your feet well every day.
- Keep between your toes dry.
- Moisturize your feet regularly (avoid between your toes).
- Trim or file your toenails consistently.
- Wear well-fitting socks and shoes, including diabetes-friendly shoes if necessary.
- Avoid walking barefoot.
If you have diabetes, take the steps necessary to effectively manage your blood sugar. Examples include:
- Take your medication exactly as prescribed.
- Monitor your blood sugar regularly.
- Follow up as directed by your care team.
- exercise regularly
- Make sleep and rest your top priority
- stress management
- Eat a nutritious diet rich in healthy fats and proteins and low in refined sugars and processed foods.
- no smoking
summary
Rarely, uncontrolled diabetes and high blood sugar levels can cause diabetic blisters. They usually appear as painless sacs filled with fluid, often on the feet but sometimes on the hands or extremities. It usually does not cause other symptoms such as inflammation or pain.
Diabetic blisters, also known as bullous diabetes or diabetic blisters, are generally harmless and often go away on their own within a few weeks. The best way to prevent this is to manage your blood sugar levels with the help of a medical professional.