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Diabetes Information

Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime

If you have diabetes, your feet need special attention. This illustrated booklet helps you care for your feet and provides tips to avoid serious foot problems.

You can take care of your feet!

Do you want to avoid serious foot problems that can lead to a toe, foot, or leg amputation? Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime tells you how. It's all about taking good care of your feet.

Foot care is very important for each person with diabetes, but especially if you have:

  • Loss of feeling in your feet.
  • Changes in the shape of your feet.
  • Foot ulcers or sores that do not heal.

Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet. You may not feel a pebble inside your sock that is causing a sore. You may not feel a blister caused by poorly fitting shoes. Foot injuries such as these can cause ulcers which may lead to amputation.

Keeping your blood glucose (sugar) in good control and taking care of your feet every day can help you avoid serious foot problems.

Use this guide to make your own plan for taking care of your feet. Helpful tips make it easy! Share your plan with your doctor and health care team and get their help when you need it.

There is a lot you can do to prevent serious problems with your feet. Here's how:

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Take care of your diabetes.

Image of Feet Can Last a Lifetime cover

  • 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 (pah-DI-ah-trist), and other specialists. This team will help you to:
    • Know when to get check your ABCs - A1C* (blood glucose), Blood pressure, and Cholesterol.
    • Know how and when to test your blood glucose.
    • Take your medicines as prescribed.
    • Eat regular meals that contain a variety of healthy, low-fat, high-fiber foods including fruits and vegetables each day.
    • Get physical activity each day.
    • Stop smoking.
    • Follow your foot care plan.
    • Keep your doctor's visits and have your feet, eyes, and kidneys checked at least once a year.
    • Visit your dentist twice a year.

* A1C is a measure of your blood glucose over a 3-month period.

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Check your feet every day.

A woman examining her feet.

  • 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.

Check your feet every day.

Reminder. Image of phone.Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, blister or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.

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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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Check your feet every day.

A woman examining her feet.

  • 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.

Check your feet every day.

Reminder. Image of phone.Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, blister or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.

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Keep the skin soft and smooth.

A person rubbing lotion into a foot.

  • 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.

Put lotion on the tops and bottoms of your feet.

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Smooth corns and calluses gently.

A person rubbing lotion into a foot.

  • 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.

Gently rub calluses with a pumice stone.

Reminder. Image of phone.Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, blister or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.

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Trim your toenails each week or when needed.

A foot, nail clippers, and a nail file.

  • 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.

Trim your toenails straight across and smooth them with a nail file.

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Wear shoes and socks at all times.

A man examining the inside of his shoes.

  • 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.

Check the inside of your shoes before you put them on.

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Protect your feet from hot and cold.

A person wearing socks and shoes while walking on a hot surface.

  • 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.

Protect your feet when walking on hot surfaces.

Reminder. Image of phone.Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, blister or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.

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Keep the blood flowing to your feet.

A woman sitting with her feet elevated.

  • 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.

Put your feet up when you are sitting.

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Be more active.

A couple walking briskly.

  • 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.

Walking briskly is a good exercise.

Reminder. Image of phone.Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, blister or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.

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Be sure to ask your doctor to.

A foot being examined for sense of feeling.

  • 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.

Ask your doctor to check the sense of feeling in your feet.

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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.
  • Print out the foot care tip sheet and put it on your bathroom or bedroom wall or nightstand as a reminder.
  • Print out and complete the "To Do" list. Get started now.
  • 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!

Reminder. Image of phone.Make sure to call your doctor right away if a cut, blister or bruise on your foot does not begin to heal after one day.

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Tips for Proper Footwear.
  • Proper footwear is very important for preventing serious foot problems. Athletic or walking shoes are good for daily wear. They support your feet and allow them to "breathe."
  • Never wear vinyl or plastic shoes, because they don't stretch or "breathe."
  • When buying shoes, make sure they are comfortable from the start and have enough room for your toes.
  • Don't buy shoes with pointed toes or high heels. They put too much pressure on your toes.
Ask your doctor about Medicare or other insurance coverage for special footwear.

You may need special shoes or shoe inserts to prevent serious foot problems. If you have Medicare Part B insurance, you may be able to get some of the cost of special shoes or inserts paid for. Ask your doctor whether you qualify for

  • 1 pair of depth shoes* and 3 pairs of inserts, or
  • 1 pair of custom molded shoes (including inserts) and 2 additional pairs of inserts.

If you qualify for Medicare or other insurance coverage, your doctor or podiatrist will tell you how to get your special shoes.

* Depth shoes look like athletic or walking shoes, but have more room in them. The extra room allows for different shaped feet and toes, or for special inserts made to fit your feet.

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For more information.

American Association of Diabetes Educators
Web site: www.diabeteseducator.org
1-800-TEAM-UP-4

American Diabetes Association
Web site: www.diabetes.org
1-800-DIABETES

American Podiatric Medical Association
Web site: www.apma.org
1-800-FOOTCARE

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Diabetes Translation
Web site: www.cdc.gov/diabetes
1-877-232-3422

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
Web site: www.jdrf.org
1-800-533-CURE

National Diabetes Education Program
Web site: www.ndep.nih.gov
1-800-438-5383

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC)
Web site: diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
1-800-860-8747

Publication date: 07/01/2003
Revised July 2003

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From the National Diabetes Education Program
http://ndep.nih.gov/publications/PublicationDetail.aspx?PubId=67



 

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This page was new at D-is-for-Diabetes on March 26, 2012

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