A Working Checklist for Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetic Foot Care: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
Daily checking and protection of the feet in anyone with diabetes. Nerve damage removes the pain that would otherwise make you notice an injury, so small problems progress silently and can end in amputation.
Key takeaways
- Annual foot check: part of routine diabetes care
- Why injuries are missed: neuropathy removes protective pain sensation
- Most useful single change: Check your feet daily, using a mirror for the soles if needed.
- Commonest mistake: Walking barefoot, indoors or out.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Check your feet daily, using a mirror for the soles if needed
- Check inside shoes before putting them on
- Keep feet clean and dry, and moisturise except between the toes
- Attend your annual foot check without fail
Do not
- Walking barefoot, indoors or out
- Over-the-counter corn and verruca treatments, which can cause ulcers
- Hot water bottles or radiators to warm cold feet
The numbers behind the list
The list is built from the numbers below, which come from the bodies cited at the end.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Annual foot check | part of routine diabetes care |
| Why injuries are missed | neuropathy removes protective pain sensation |
| Daily check | soles, between toes, and around the heels |
| Footwear | well-fitting, checked inside before wearing |
| Any new ulcer | same-day referral to a foot protection service |
If you change one thing
Check your feet daily, using a mirror for the soles if needed. That is the opening item above. Doing only that is still doing something.
Where to go next
- The Evidence on Diabetic Foot Care, Without the Hype
- Diabetic Foot Care, Explained Without the Jargon
- Diabetic Foot Care — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Hypoglycaemia, Without the Hype
- Diabetic Eye Screening: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
Seek same-day medical advice for any break in the skin, ulcer, blister, colour change, swelling, unusual warmth, or new numbness or tingling in the feet. Foot infection in diabetes can progress within days. Go to A&E for a foot that is black, spreading redness, fever, or a wound with discharge and odour.
Where this comes from
- NICE — Diabetic foot problems: prevention and management
- Diabetes UK — looking after your feet
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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