Be Sweet to Your Feet if You Have Diabetes
By the National Diabetes Education Program
Taking care of your feet is very important for people with diabetes. Good foot care
helps reduce your risk for serious foot problems that can lead to amputations. To
decrease your risk of foot problems, learn to manage the ABCs of diabetes. This
means keeping your blood glucose (as measured by the A1C
test), blood pressure,
and cholesterol in the target range recommended by your health care provider. Ask
your health care provider about your diabetes ABCs and how to do a foot exam at home.
Be sweet to your feet by following these foot care tips:
- Check your feet every day (evening is best) for cuts, blisters, red spots, swelling, and
sore toenails. If you have trouble bending over to see your feet, use a plastic mirror or
ask a family member or caregiver to help.
- Wash your feet every day in warm water, and be sure to dry well between the toes.
- Rub a thin coat of skin lotion on the tops and bottoms of your feet, but not between
your toes.
- Trim your toenails carefully and straight across when needed. See your podiatrist if
you need help.
- Never walk barefoot, and wear comfortable shoes that fit well and protect your
feet. Nerve damage can cause loss of feeling. Look and feel inside your shoes before
putting them on. Ask your team about getting special shoes.
- Keep the blood flowing to your feet by wiggling your toes and moving your ankles up
and down for 5 minutes, two or three times a day.
- Plan a physical activity program with your health care team.
- Take your shoes and socks off at every check up and have your doctor look at
your feet. Tell your health care team right away about any foot problems.
- Let your doctor know right away if you have loss of feeling in your feet, changes
in the shape of your foot or foot ulcers or sores that do not heal.
For a free copy of Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime,
contact the National Diabetes
Education Program at
www.YourDiabetesInfo.org or
call 1-888-693-NDEP (1-888-693-6337),
TTY: 1-866-569-1162.
[Editor's Note: It is reproduced at D-is-for-Diabetes, at
Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime]
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Diabetes Education Program is
jointly sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) with the support of more than 200 partner organizations.
Updated August 2011
