Diabetic Foot Care: Daily Habits to Prevent Problems
Foot problems are a common and serious complication of diabetes, but many of them can be prevented with simple daily habits and regular checkups. This guide explains why diabetes affects the feet, what to look for, how to care for your feet every day, and when to get help right away. It is general information; follow the advice of your own health care team or podiatrist.
Why diabetes affects the feet
Over time, high blood glucose can damage nerves and blood vessels. NIDDK explains two main problems:
- Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy): Damaged nerves may cause tingling, burning, or pain, or may cause loss of feeling. Without feeling, you might not notice a blister, cut, or a pebble in your shoe, so small injuries can go unnoticed and get worse. Nerve damage can also change the shape of the feet and toes.
- Poor blood flow (peripheral artery disease): Narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to the legs and feet, which slows healing and raises the risk of infection.
Together, these can turn a small sore into a foot ulcer. Ulcers can become infected, and severe infections may lead to amputation. The CDC notes that diabetes is a leading cause of lower-limb amputations. The good news is that careful foot care and prompt treatment can prevent most serious problems.
Signs of foot problems
Check for and tell your provider about:
- Numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in the feet
- Loss of feeling to touch, heat, or cold
- Changes in the shape of your feet or toes
- Cuts, blisters, sores, or cracks that are slow to heal
- Redness, warmth, swelling, or drainage, which may signal infection
- Calluses or corns
- Ingrown or thickened toenails, or fungal infections
- Cold feet, shiny or hairless skin, or pain in the legs when walking that improves with rest, which may signal poor circulation
- Dry, cracked skin, especially on the heels
Daily foot care routine
The American Diabetes Association and NIDDK recommend these habits:
Check your feet every day
Look at the tops, bottoms, sides, heels, and between the toes for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or nail problems. Use a mirror or ask someone for help if you cannot see the bottoms of your feet. Check at the same time every day, such as when you take off your shoes at night.
Wash and dry carefully
Wash your feet daily in warm, not hot, water. Test the water with your elbow or a thermometer, since reduced feeling can make you misjudge temperature. Do not soak your feet for long periods, which can dry out the skin. Dry gently, especially between the toes.
Moisturize, but not between the toes
Apply lotion to the tops and bottoms of your feet to prevent cracking. Do not put lotion between the toes, where extra moisture can lead to infection.
Trim toenails carefully
Trim nails straight across and smooth the edges with a nail file. If you cannot see well, cannot reach your feet, or have thick or ingrown nails, ask a podiatrist to trim them.
Don't treat corns and calluses yourself
Do not cut corns or calluses or use over-the-counter wart removers or chemical treatments, which can damage skin. A podiatrist can treat them safely.
Always wear socks and shoes
Wear shoes and socks at all times, including indoors, to protect your feet from injury. Before putting on shoes, check inside for pebbles or rough areas.
Choose the right footwear
- Wear well-fitting shoes with enough room for your toes. Buy shoes later in the day, when feet may be slightly larger.
- Break in new shoes gradually.
- Choose clean, dry socks without tight elastic tops or thick seams. Moisture-wicking socks can help.
- Avoid high heels, pointed toes, and open-toed shoes or sandals.
- Your provider may recommend special therapeutic shoes or inserts if you have nerve damage or foot deformities. Medicare and other insurance may help cover them for eligible people.
Protect from heat and cold
Do not use heating pads, hot water bottles, or electric blankets on your feet. Wear sunscreen on the tops of your feet, and wear socks in bed if your feet get cold.
Keep blood flowing
Put your feet up when sitting, wiggle your toes and move your ankles for a few minutes several times a day, and avoid crossing your legs for long periods. Don't smoke; smoking reduces blood flow.
Manage diabetes to protect your feet
The best way to prevent nerve and blood vessel damage is to keep blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol in your target ranges. Regular physical activity such as walking can improve circulation, but if you have loss of feeling or foot ulcers, ask your provider which activities are safe; non-weight-bearing options like swimming or cycling may be recommended. See exercise and diabetes and A1C and blood sugar targets.
Professional foot exams
Ask your health care provider to look at your feet at every visit; taking off your shoes and socks when you arrive is a good reminder. The ADA recommends a comprehensive foot exam at least once a year for people with diabetes. This includes checking skin, circulation, and sensation, often using a thin nylon filament (monofilament) to test feeling. People with loss of sensation or prior ulcers need more frequent checks and may benefit from regular care by a podiatrist.
Foot ulcers
A foot ulcer is an open sore or wound, most often on the bottom of the foot. MedlinePlus explains that people with diabetes are more likely to get ulcers because of nerve damage and poor circulation. Treatment may include keeping pressure off the wound (offloading) with special shoes, casts, or braces, removing dead tissue, dressings, treating infection, and improving blood flow. Ulcers heal best when treated early.
When to get help right away
Call your provider promptly if you notice:
- A cut, blister, or sore that does not start to heal within a few days
- Redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or a bad smell
- A change in skin color, especially turning blue, black, or pale
- New pain, numbness, or tingling
- An ingrown toenail
- Fever or chills along with a foot wound
Seek urgent care for signs of a spreading infection or a foot that is suddenly cold, pale, or very painful.
Charcot foot
In some people with severe nerve damage, the bones of the foot can weaken and break, and the foot can change shape. This is called Charcot foot. Warning signs include sudden warmth, redness, and swelling of the foot, sometimes without much pain. It needs prompt medical attention.
Related guides
Learn more in our articles on type 2 diabetes, heart health, and high blood sugar. MedlinePlus also has a diabetic foot overview.
Key takeaways
- Diabetes can damage nerves and blood vessels in the feet, making small injuries dangerous.
- Check your feet daily, wash and dry carefully, moisturize (not between the toes), and always wear shoes and socks.
- Get your feet checked at every visit and a comprehensive foot exam at least yearly.
- Get prompt care for any sore that is not healing or any sign of infection.
Sources
Links to the sources cited above appear in the text. We rely on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA).