Foot Care Habits That Help Prevent Complications

When your feet cannot feel pain, your eyes have to do the job. A few minutes a day is the most effective thing you can do to prevent ulcers and amputations.

Why it matters

Research estimates that between about one in five and one in three people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer during their lifetime. After an ulcer heals, roughly 40 percent come back within a year. Most of these start with a small injury that went unnoticed. Good daily habits catch problems while they are still small.

Every day

• Look at both feet. Check the tops, soles, heels and between the toes. Use a mirror, or ask a family member, if you cannot see the bottoms of your feet. Look for cuts, blisters, red spots, swelling, calluses, or changes in color.
• Wash your feet in lukewarm water. Test the water with your elbow or a thermometer first, not your foot. Do not soak your feet for long periods.
• Dry carefully, especially between the toes, where moisture invites fungal infection.
• Moisturize the tops and bottoms to prevent cracks, but do not put lotion between the toes.
• Wear clean, dry socks without tight elastic tops or thick seams.

Shoes and walking

• Never go barefoot, inside or outside, including at the beach or by the pool.
• Feel inside your shoes before putting them on for stones, rough seams, or anything stuck in them.
• Buy shoes that fit, with room for your toes. Shop late in the day when feet are largest, and break new shoes in slowly.
• If you have lost feeling or have foot deformities, ask whether you qualify for therapeutic shoes or inserts. Medicare and many insurers cover them for qualifying patients.

Things to avoid

• Heating pads, hot water bottles, or putting your feet near a heater or fireplace. Numb feet burn easily.
• Over-the-counter corn and wart removers, which contain acids that can cause wounds.
• Cutting corns or calluses yourself, or “bathroom surgery” on ingrown nails.
• Smoking, which reduces blood flow to the feet and slows healing.

Toenails

Trim toenails straight across and smooth sharp corners with a nail file. If your nails are thick, you cannot see well, or you have lost feeling, have a podiatrist or trained nurse trim them.

At your appointments

• Take off your shoes and socks at every visit as a reminder for your doctor to look at your feet.
• Get a comprehensive foot exam at least once a year.
• If you have lost feeling, have had an ulcer, or have poor circulation, ask for a referral to a foot specialist.

Call your doctor the same day for

Any wound that is not healing, a red, hot or swollen foot, drainage, a bad smell, or skin turning black or blue. Do not wait for it to hurt.

Medical disclaimer: The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk with your physician or other qualified healthcare provider about any medical condition or before starting any new treatment or supplement.