Diabetic blisters often appear on the feet, hands, arms, or lower legs.
They are also more common in people with diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain).
Appearance
Diabetic blisters are fluid-filled sacs without any surrounding redness or swelling.
Photo composite by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health; Getty Images
Many people compare them to blisters from a burn.
Most people get more than one at a time.
Blisterscaused by diabetes tend to be significantly larger than other kinds 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, or lower half of the legs.
Theres no specific timeline, but this may take several months or years.
Once diabetic blisters start forming, it takes only a few days for them to erupt.
Sensations
Bullosis diabeticorum is a non-inflammatory, typically painless condition.
Most people with diabetic blisters dont experience any associated symptoms, such as stinging, tenderness, or itchiness.
They may also perform a serum (blood) test to assess your blood sugar levels.
Some examples include:
Why Does Diabetes Lead to Blisters?
The exact cause of diabetic bullae remains unknown.
It also negatively affects circulation throughout the body.
These complications may cause changes in the skin, including blisters in some people.
However, they often tend to show up again, often in the same areas of your body.
You should avoidpopping your blistersyourself, as this could increase the chance of infection.
The best way to treat diabetic blisters is by treating your overall symptoms of diabetes.
This should help to prevent future blisters from forming.
They usually dont cause other symptoms, such as inflammation and pain.
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