What do diabetic legs look like?

Diabetic dermopathy
The spots look like red or brown round patches or lines in the skin and are common in people with diabetes. They appear on the front of your legs (your shins) and are often confused with age spots. The spots don't hurt, itch, or open up.

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How do you know if you have diabetes in your legs?

Tingling, burning, or pain in your feet. Loss of sense of touch or ability to feel heat or cold very well. A change in the shape of your feet over time. Loss of hair on your toes, feet, and lower legs.

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What are the beginning signs of type 2 diabetes legs?

Peripheral neuropathy
  • Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or temperature changes.
  • Tingling or burning feeling.
  • Sharp pains or cramps.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Extreme sensitivity to touch — for some people, even a bedsheet's weight can be painful.
  • Serious foot problems, such as ulcers, infections, and bone and joint damage.

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What is the diabetic thing on your leg?

Shin spots

It's common in people who have diabetes. The medical name is diabetic dermopathy. It usually forms on the shins. In rare cases, you'll see it on the arms, thighs, trunk, or other areas of the body.

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What is diabetic discoloration of the lower legs?

Diabetic dermopathy refers to small discolored spots that tend to appear on the lower legs, most commonly in people with diabetes. There is no known cause, but the spots generally cause no pain and resolve without treatment.

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Diabetics are prone to skin conditions

44 related questions found

How do you reverse diabetic legs?

There is currently no way to reverse diabetic neuropathy, although scientists are working on future treatments. For now, the best approach is to manage blood sugar levels through medication and lifestyle changes. Keeping glucose within target levels can reduce the risk of developing neuropathy and its complications.

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Is leg discoloration serious?

Yes. Leg discoloration that is not caused by injury, allergic reaction, or bruising can be a sign of vascular disease. It is important to see a vascular specialist for a diagnosis and treatment of the venous problems causing leg discoloration and other symptoms.

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How do you treat diabetic legs?

How Should a Diabetic Foot Ulcer Be Treated?
  1. Prevention of infection.
  2. Taking the pressure off the area, called “off-loading”
  3. Removing dead skin and tissue, called “debridement”
  4. Applying medication or dressings to the ulcer.
  5. Managing blood glucose and other health problems.

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Do legs feel strange with diabetes?

Tingling, numbness, pain in the arms, legs, hands, or feet — these are all common signs of diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage. Up to 70 percent of people with diabetes will develop some type of neuropathy, making it one of the most common side effects of this disease.

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How do I know I am pre diabetic?

Symptoms
  • Increased thirst.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Increased hunger.
  • Fatigue.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands.
  • Frequent infections.
  • Slow-healing sores.

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How do you feel when your blood sugar is too high?

feeling or being sick. abdominal (tummy) pain. rapid, deep breathing. signs of dehydration, such as a headache, dry skin and a weak, rapid heartbeat.

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How long can you have diabetes without knowing?

Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because the early symptoms tend to be general, or there are no symptoms at all.

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What are the 10 signs of high blood sugar?

Early on, hyperglycemia can make you feel off in a variety of ways:
  • Fatigue. Feeling tired may be the most common early sign of high blood sugar, Dr. ...
  • Frequent urination. ...
  • Increased thirst. ...
  • Headaches. ...
  • Blurred vision. ...
  • Nausea, vomiting, confusion, and more. ...
  • Recurrent infections. ...
  • Slow-Healing sores.

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Where do you itch if you have diabetes?

Itching. Localized itching is often caused by diabetes. It can be caused by a yeast infection, dry skin, or poor circulation. When poor circulation is the cause of itching, the itchiest areas may be the lower parts of the legs.

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What is diabetic belly?

It can be an early sign of so-called "diabetic belly," a build-up of visceral fat in your abdomen which may be a symptom of type 2 diabetes and can increase your chances of developing other serious medical conditions.

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What are 3 things you should never do to the feet of someone with diabetes?

Avoid soaking your feet, as this can lead to dry skin. Dry your feet gently, especially between the toes. Moisturize your feet and ankles with lotion or petroleum jelly. Do not put oils or creams between your toes — the extra moisture can lead to infection.

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What are the signs of diabetes in a woman?

Typical symptoms include:
  • feeling very thirsty.
  • passing urine more often than usual, particularly at night.
  • feeling very tired.
  • weight loss and loss of muscle bulk.
  • slow to heal cuts or ulcers.
  • frequent vaginal or penile thrush.
  • blurred vision.

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What are the physical signs of being diabetic?

If you have any of the following diabetes symptoms, see your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested:
  • Urinate (pee) a lot, often at night.
  • Are very thirsty.
  • Lose weight without trying.
  • Are very hungry.
  • Have blurry vision.
  • Have numb or tingling hands or feet.
  • Feel very tired.
  • Have very dry skin.

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What does diabetic itching feel like?

What does diabetes itching feel like? If you have diabetes, itching can be intense. It's an irritating feeling that makes it hard not to scratch, but scratching can make the itch worse. You can itch anywhere, but if you have nerve damage (neuropathy) associated with diabetes, your lower legs may itch.

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Why do diabetics lose their legs first?

Diabetes is linked to two other conditions that raise the chances of foot amputation: peripheral artery disease (PAD) and diabetic neuropathy. PAD can narrow the arteries that carry blood to your legs and feet and make you more likely to get ulcers (open sores) and infections.

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How can diabetics improve their legs?

Consider taking these steps to improving circulation:

Biking, walking, running, swimming, and aerobics are good options. The most important thing is to be sure you're moving your toes, feet, ankles, and legs. Quit smoking: Smoking hardens your arteries, much like PAD, and decreases your circulation.

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Will diabetic leg pain go away?

But when it comes to leg pain caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the damage is usually permanent and irreversible. This is why blood sugar control, weight management, and other preventative treatment is so important.

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What are the symptoms of poor blood circulation in the legs?

Symptoms of poor circulation are often easy to spot. They include muscle cramping, constant foot pain, and pain and throbbing in the arms and legs. As well as fatigue, varicose veins, and digestive issues. Leg cramps while walking and wounds that don't seem to heal in your legs, feet, and toes are also symptoms.

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How do you fix blood circulation in your legs?

Helpful Tips
  1. Get moving. One of the best things you can do to improve circulation is to exercise regularly. ...
  2. Stop smoking. Smoking harms the walls of your arteries and causes plaque. ...
  3. Healthy Diet. ...
  4. Elevate legs. ...
  5. Compression stockings. ...
  6. Manage Blood Pressure. ...
  7. See a Vascular Surgeon.

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What do mottled legs look like?

What does mottled skin look like? The condition causes patches of discoloration in a lace-like pattern, with pale skin at the center. The reticula may be reddish-blue or purple and may come and go. Symptoms often affect only certain areas of your body, like your lower limbs.

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