Daily foot care for people with diabetes means checking your feet every day, washing and drying them gently and wearing suitable shoes, because diabetes can weaken feeling and circulation so a wound may go unnoticed at first. These habits help catch problems early, and any wound or change in the foot needs to be seen by a doctor.
Note: If you notice spreading redness, swelling, pus or a bad smell from a foot wound, especially with fever or unusually high blood sugar, go to the emergency department immediately.
Why do feet need special care with diabetes?
Over time, diabetes can affect the nerves in the feet, so you feel less pain and heat. It can also affect the arteries, so less blood reaches the feet. A small cut or rubbing from a shoe can then go unnoticed.
Small wounds may heal slowly or become infected. The good news is that simple daily care helps you find problems while they are still small.
Checking your feet every day
Choose a fixed time each day, for example before bed, and look at your feet in good light:
- Look at the soles, heels and between the toes. Use a mirror or ask a family member if this is hard for you.
- Look for cuts, cracks, blisters, redness and swelling.
- Notice any change in the colour of the skin or nails.
- Touch your feet to see if one is colder or warmer than usual.
Washing, moisturising and nails
- Wash your feet daily with lukewarm water and mild soap. Test the water with your hand or elbow, not your foot.
- Do not soak your feet for long.
- Dry your feet gently and well, especially between the toes.
- Use a moisturising cream on dry skin, but not between the toes.
- Cut nails straight across and not too short. If they are thick or your eyesight is poor, ask a professional for help.
Shoes and socks
- Do not walk barefoot, indoors or outdoors.
- Choose comfortable shoes with enough room at the front so they do not press on your toes.
- Feel inside your shoes with your hand before putting them on, to check for small stones or objects.
- Wear clean socks without thick seams or tight elastic, and change them daily.
- Buy new shoes later in the day and wear them for short periods at first.
Things to avoid
- Do not treat corns or hard skin yourself with sharp tools or chemical plasters.
- Do not put your feet near a heater or use a hot-water bottle on them.
- Do not put off dealing with a small wound in the hope it will heal on its own.
- Smoking harms the arteries and slows wound healing; quitting helps protect your feet.
When should you see a doctor?
- A cut, crack or blister that is not getting better.
- A foot or toe turning red, blue or dark.
- Swelling or warmth in the foot.
- Leg pain when walking, or foot pain at rest.
- A change in the shape of the foot.
Regular foot checks by a doctor are also important, as often as your doctor advises. Read more on the diabetic foot treatment page and the diabetic foot ulcer treatment page.
