Diabetic Foot Care Tips
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Caring for Your
Diabetic Feet
There is a lot you can do to prevent serious problems with your
feet. Here's how.
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1. Take care of your diabetes.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices to help keep your blood glucose
(sugar), blood pressure, and cholesterol close to normal. Doing so may
help prevent or delay diabetes-related foot problems as well as eye and
kidney disease.
- Work with your health care team to make a diabetes plan that fits your
lifestyle. The team may include your doctor, a diabetes educator, a nurse,
a dietitian, a foot care doctor called a podiatrist, and
other specialists. This team will help you to:
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2. Check your feet every day.
- You may have serious foot problems, but feel no pain. Check your feet
for cuts, sores, red spots, swelling, and infected toenails. Find a time
(evening is best) to check your feet each day. Make checking your feet
part of your every day routine.
- If you have trouble bending over to see your feet, use a plastic
mirror to help. You also can ask a family member or caregiver to help you.
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3. Wash your feet every day.
- Wash your feet in warm, not hot, water. Do not soak your feet, because
your skin will get dry.
- Before bathing or showering, test the water to make sure it is not too
hot. You can use a thermometer (90° to 95° F is safe) or your elbow.
- Dry your feet well. Be sure to dry between your toes. Use talcum
powder or cornstarch to keep the skin between your toes dry.
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4. Keep the skin soft and smooth.
- Rub a thin coat of skin lotion, cream, or petroleum jelly on the tops
and bottoms of your feet.
- Do not put lotion or cream between your toes, because this might cause
an infection.
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5. Smooth corns and calluses gently.
- If you have corns and calluses, check with your doctor or foot care
specialist about the best way to care for them.
- If your doctor tells you to, use a pumice stone to smooth corns and
calluses after bathing or showering. A pumice stone is a type of rock used
to smooth the skin. Rub gently, only in one direction, to avoid tearing
the skin.
- Do not cut corns and calluses. Don't use razor blades, corn plasters,
or liquid corn and callus removers -- they can damage your skin.
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6. Trim your toenails each week or when needed.
- Trim your toenails with clippers after you wash and dry your feet.
- Trim toenails straight across and smooth them with an emery board or
nail file.
- Don't cut into the corners of the toenail.
- If you can't see well, if your toenails are thick or yellowed, or if
your nails curve and grow into the skin, have a foot care doctor trim
them.
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7. Wear shoes and socks at all times.
- Wear shoes and socks at all times. Do not walk barefoot -- not even
indoors -- because it is easy to step on something and hurt your feet.
- Always wear socks, stockings, or nylons with your shoes to help avoid
blisters and sores.
- Choose clean, lightly padded socks that fit well. Socks that have no
seams are best.
- Check the insides of your shoes before you put them on to be sure the
lining is smooth and that there are no objects in them.
- Wear shoes that fit well and protect your feet.
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8. Protect your feet from hot and cold.
- Wear shoes at the beach or on hot pavement.
- Put sunscreen on the top of your feet to prevent sunburn.
- Keep your feet away from radiators and open fires.
- Do not put hot water bottles or heating pads on your feet.
- Wear socks at night if your feet get cold. Lined boots are good in
winter to keep your feet warm.
- Check your feet often in cold weather to avoid frostbite.
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9. Keep the blood flowing to your feet.
- Put your feet up when you are sitting.
- Wiggle your toes for 5 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. Move your ankles
up and down and in and out to improve blood flow in your feet and legs.
- Don't cross your legs for long periods of time.
- Don't wear tight socks, elastic or rubber bands, or garters around
your legs.
- Don't smoke. Smoking reduces blood flow to your feet. Ask for help to
stop smoking.
- Work with your health care team to control your A1C (blood glucose),
blood pressure and cholesterol.
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10. Be more active.
- Ask your doctor to help you plan a daily activity program that is
right for you.
- Walking, dancing, swimming, and bicycling are good forms of exercise
that are easy on the feet.
- Avoid activities that are hard on the feet, such as running and
jumping.
- Always include a short warm-up and cool-down period.
- Wear athletic shoes that fit well and that provide good support.
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11. Be sure to ask your doctor to
- Check the sense of feeling and pulses in your feet at least once a
year.
- Tell you if you are likely to have serious foot problems. If you have
serious foot problems, your feet should be checked at every visit to your
doctor.
- Show you how to care for your feet.
- Refer you to a foot care doctor if needed.
- Decide if special shoes would help your feet stay healthy.
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12. Get started now.
- Begin taking good care of your feet today.
- Set a time every day to check your feet.
- Note the date of your next visit to the doctor.
- Set a date for buying the things you need to take care of your feet:
nail clippers, pumice stone, emery board, skin lotion, talcum powder,
plastic mirror, socks, athletic shoes, and slippers.
- Most important, stick with your foot care program .... and give
yourself a special treat such as a new pair of lightly padded socks with
no seams. You deserve it!
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These diabetic foot care tips are from
NIH Publication No. 01-4285
October 2001
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