INFOGRAPHIC

How to Care for Your Feet When You Have Diabetes

Reviewed by Claudia Levi, R.N.
November 05, 2024
How to Care for Your Feet When You Have Diabetes Foot Care for People Living with Diabetes Diabetes can pose risks to your feet. That’s because the condition can cause nerve damage in the legs and feet called diabetic neuropathy. This may affect up to 50% of people with diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy can cause you to lose sensation in your feet. That means you could feel numb and not notice problems or injuries. That can lead to issues such as sores or ulcers. In extreme cases, it can lead to the need for amputation. Managing Your Condition Can Help Caring for your health can help prevent or slow the effects of diabetic neuropathy. This includes: Monitoring and managing your blood glucose (blood sugar) Eating a healthy diet to help manage or prevent high blood pressure and high cholesterol Quitting and avoiding smoking How to Put Your Feet First It’s also important to take good care of your feet. Check your feet every day. Look for any swelling, blisters, redness, cuts, or peeling skin. Catching minor issues early can keep them from becoming more serious. Keep your feet clean and dry. Wash your feet daily with warm water and mild soap. Dry them well as soon as you’re done. Keep your body moving to promote blood flow. Stay physically active as best you can. If you need to sit for a long time, elevate your feet, and wiggle your toes every now and then throughout the day. Wear the right socks and shoes. Keep your feet covered, even when you’re inside—socks and shoes or slippers are good. Avoid thick seams and tight bands on your socks. Choose socks made of cotton or moisture-wicking fibers. Make sure your shoes fit properly and that your toes have room to move. Attend yearly checkups. Make sure you have a foot doctor and ensure you attend a complete exam with them at least once a year. Ask your doctor what activities, like running, are safe and healthy for your feet and what activities you should avoid. When to Get Checked If something feels off, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor. Get your feet checked as soon as possible if you notice any of these symptoms: Pain Sores Unusual sensations Loss of feeling or the ability to notice touch, heat, or cold Any fungal or bacterial infection Change in the shape, temperature, or color of your feet The right precautions can help you keep small issues from having bigger consequences for your health. Sources: American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Foot Care Tips. Retrieved October 7, 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). Your Feet and Diabetes. Mayo Clinic. (2022). Diabetic Neuropathy.

For the text version of this infographic, read on.

Foot Care for People Living with Diabetes

Diabetes can pose risks to your feet.

That’s because the condition can cause nerve damage in the legs and feet called diabetic neuropathy. This may affect up to 50% of people with diabetes.

Diabetic neuropathy can cause you to lose sensation in your feet. That means you could feel numb and not notice problems or injuries.

That can lead to issues such as sores or ulcers. In extreme cases, it can lead to the need for amputation.

Managing Your Condition Can Help

Caring for your health can help prevent or slow the effects of diabetic neuropathy.

This includes:

  • Monitoring and managing your blood glucose (blood sugar)
  • Eating a healthy diet to help manage or prevent high blood pressure and high cholesterol
  • Quitting and avoiding smoking

How to Put Your Feet First

It’s also important to take good care of your feet.

  • Check your feet every day.

Look for any swelling, blisters, redness, cuts, or peeling skin. Catching minor issues early can keep them from becoming more serious.

  • Keep your feet clean and dry.

Wash your feet daily with warm water and mild soap. Dry them well as soon as you’re done.

  • Keep your body moving to promote blood flow.

Stay physically active as best you can.

If you need to sit for a long time, elevate your feet, and wiggle your toes every now and then throughout the day.

  • Wear the right socks and shoes.

Keep your feet covered, even when you’re inside—socks and shoes or slippers are good.

Avoid thick seams and tight bands on your socks.

Choose socks made of cotton or moisture-wicking fibers.

Make sure your shoes fit properly and that your toes have room to move.

  • Attend yearly checkups.

Make sure you have a foot doctor and ensure you attend a complete exam with them at least once a year.

Ask your doctor what activities, like running, are safe and healthy for your feet and what activities you should avoid.

When to Get Checked

If something feels off, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor. Get your feet checked as soon as possible if you notice any of these symptoms:

  • Pain
  • Sores
  • Unusual sensations
  • Loss of feeling or the ability to notice touch, heat, or cold
  • Any fungal or bacterial infection
  • Change in the shape, temperature, or color of your feet

The right precautions can help you keep small issues from having bigger consequences for your health.

Sources:

American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Foot Care Tips. Retrieved October 7, 2024.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). Your Feet and Diabetes.

Mayo Clinic. (2022). Diabetic Neuropathy.