When you have diabetes, your feet need extra care and attention. Diabetes can damage the nerve endings and blood vessels in your feet, making you less likely to notice when your feet are injured. Diabetes also limits your body's ability to fight infection and get blood to areas that need it. If you get a minor foot injury, it could become an ulcer or a serious infection. With good foot care, you can prevent most of these problems.
Caring for your feet can be quick and easy. Most of the care can be done when you are bathing or getting ready for bed.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
When you have diabetes, you'll need to check your feet every day.
Using this checklist can help you remember to examine all areas of your feet.
Check your feet for: | What to do if you notice a problem |
---|---|
Skin color changes:
|
|
Patches where hair is missing | Bald patches may mean irritation from shoes or a blood flow problem. Show the areas to your doctor during your next visit. |
Blister | Try to discover the cause of the blister. Friction or rubbing against your skin causes blisters. You may need new shoes.
|
Break in your skin | Check the underside of your toes and the area between the toes for breaks in the skin.
|
Calluses (hardened areas of skin) and corns (pressure injuries, usually found on or between toes) | Show the area to your doctor at your next visit. This is very important.
|
Peeling skin or tiny blisters between your toes or cracking and oozing of the skin | This may be athlete's foot. Treating athlete's foot early can prevent serious foot infections.
|
Moisture between your toes | Dry between your toes well. Moisture between your toes provides a good place for bacteria and fungi to grow, causing infection. |
Numbness, burning, or "pins and needles" feeling | Call your doctor if you have new numbness or tingling in your feet that does not go away after changing position. |
Sore (ulcer) | Call your doctor immediately. Do not try to treat a foot ulcer at home. If you check your feet regularly, you usually will see a problem before it becomes an ulcer. |
Ingrown toenail | Call your doctor for an appointment. Do not treat an ingrown toenail at home. |
©2011-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated