Diabetes and your feet: the two-minute daily foot check

Diabetes can quietly damage the nerves in your feet, so a blister or a small cut doesn’t hurt the way it should. It can also reduce blood flow, so wounds heal slowly. That combination is why a small, unnoticed problem can turn into an ulcer or an infection.^[1,2] A daily foot check is the simplest, most effective habit for catching problems early.

Your two-minute daily check

Pick a time you’ll remember, such as after your evening shower or when you take off your shoes.

1. Sit down in good light.
2. Look at the tops of both feet and your toes.
3. Look at the soles. If you can’t see them easily, use a mirror on the floor, or ask a family member.
4. Look between every toe.
5. Feel for heat. Run your hands over each foot; one foot or one area that feels warmer than the other can be an early warning.
6. Check your nails for ingrown edges or redness.

What you’re looking for

• cuts, scrapes or puncture marks,
• blisters,
• redness, warmth or swelling,
• calluses or corns, especially with dark spots of bleeding underneath,
• cracks in the skin, especially at the heel,
• peeling or moist, white skin between the toes (possible athlete’s foot),
• sores or drainage on your socks,
• any change in the shape of the foot.^[1]

Everyday habits that protect your feet

• Wash your feet daily in lukewarm water (test it with your elbow, not your foot), and dry carefully between the toes.
• Moisturize dry skin on the tops and soles, but not between the toes.
• Never walk barefoot, indoors or out.
• Check inside your shoes before putting them on, and wear well-fitting shoes with clean, dry socks.
• Cut nails straight across, or have us do it if you can’t see or reach well, or have neuropathy.
• Don’t cut corns or calluses yourself, or use over-the-counter corn removers.
• Keep blood sugar in your target range, and don’t smoke.^[1]

Your annual foot exam

Everyone with diabetes should have a comprehensive foot exam at least once a year, including tests for loss of protective sensation and a check of the circulation.^[3] If your feet are at higher risk (for example, with neuropathy, poor circulation, a foot deformity, or a past ulcer), international guidelines recommend more frequent checks, from every six months down to every one to three months, along with footwear designed to reduce pressure.^[4] See diabetic foot care.

If you find something

Don’t wait to see if it goes away. A blister, cut or area of redness that isn’t clearly better in a day or two needs to be seen. Keep weight off it, cover it with a clean dressing, and call us. See foot wounds that won’t heal.

When to see a podiatrist