Checklist for Healthy Feet

Daily exam:

• Look for cuts or sores
• Check for warning signs: redness, swelling, warmth, pain, slow healing,
•  dry cracks, bleeding corns or calluses, tenderness, loss of sensation

Daily care:

• Wash your feet daily and dry them carefully, especially between the toes
• Use talcum powder
• Do not cut corns or calluses - use a foot care specialist if needed
• Keep toenails trimmed and smooth
• Promptly treat dry skin or athlete's foot
• Keep blood glucose under control

Periodic foot exam by your healthcare provider:

• Once a year for everyone, every 3 - 6 months for people at high risk
• Take off shoes and socks at every doctor visit
• Check for sensation and foot pulses
• Ask for a risk evaluation

Footwear:

• Wear shoes and socks at all times
• Don't wear shoes or socks that are too tight
• Wear well-cushioned shoes
• Buy shoes that are roomy and "breathe"
• People with diagnosed foot problems may need special footwear

Why are they worse for people with diabetes?

In people with diabetes, these problems frequently lead to infections. If blood glucose levels are high, your ability to fight infection is weakened. High glucose levels cause two other problems that can significantly hurt your feet:

These two conditions can work together to cause a foot problem, or to make it harder for a foot condition to heal. See the example in the box.

How will I know if I'm at risk for diabetic foot problems?

About 15% of people with diabetes will develop foot ulceration at some point, and 14% to 24% of these will have to have an amputation. The majority of these - almost 60% - occur in people who are 65 and older. The risk for foot ulceration leading to amputation increases in people over 40 who have had diabetes for 10 years or longer.

People are at high risk for foot problems if they have loss of protective sensation - such that you can't feel an injury, or vascular disease causing poor blood flow in your feet and legs. Other risk factors are skin disorders such as calluses, especially with redness or bleeding under a callus, and nail abnormalities such as very thick nails. Structural/bony deformities such as hammertoes or bunions and limited joint mobility are also risk factors.

In addition, people who do not have good control of their blood glucose are at increased risk, as are those who have cardiovascular, eye, or kidney complications. People who have had foot ulcers or amputation previously have, by definition, the necessary risk factors for future problems.

The American Podiatric Medical Association has identified specific conditions that warn of impending foot problems - see the box.

If you experience any of these conditions, contact your healthcare provider or podiatrist right away. They should be properly managed in order to avoid complications.

wound care

diabetic ulcer

diabetic foot infection

Prevent Common Foot Problems from Diabetes

What if I do get a diabetic foot ulcer?

prevent diabetic foot problems