Why feet need special care in diabetes
Over time, high blood sugar can damage nerves, so you may not feel a stone in your shoe, a blister or a burn, and it can narrow blood vessels, so small wounds heal slowly and infections spread faster. A small crack or blister can then turn into an ulcer without you noticing. The good news: most foot ulcers are preventable with simple daily habits.
Your daily checklist
1. Look
- Check both feet every day in good light: top, sole, heel, and between the toes.
- Use a mirror for the soles, or ask a family member to look.
- Look for cuts, blisters, cracks, redness, swelling, colour change, or nail problems.
2. Wash and dry
- Wash daily in lukewarm water. Test the temperature with your elbow, not your foot.
- Don't soak your feet for long, as it softens and cracks the skin.
- Dry gently but thoroughly, especially between the toes, to prevent fungal infection.
3. Moisturise
- Apply a plain moisturiser to dry skin and cracked heels.
- Not between the toes: moisture there encourages infection.
4. Nails
- Cut nails straight across after bathing, when they're soft, and file sharp edges.
- Don't dig into corners. If nails are thick, or your vision or feeling is poor, get help.
5. Protect
- Never walk barefoot, not even at home, on the terrace, or at religious places. Carry soft socks where footwear isn't allowed.
- Wear clean cotton socks without tight elastic; change them daily.
- Shake out and feel inside your shoes before putting them on.
- Wear soft, closed, well-fitting footwear with room for the toes; avoid thin rubber chappals for long walks.
6. Things to avoid
- Cutting corns or calluses with blades, or using acid "corn caps".
- Hot water bottles, heaters or hot sand on numb feet.
- Tight shoes, and new shoes worn all day on the first day.
- Smoking, which starves the feet of blood.
Printable summary
| Every day | Every week | Every year (or more) |
|---|---|---|
| Look at both feet; wash, dry, moisturise; clean socks; check shoes | Trim nails; check footwear for wear; review sugar readings | Foot examination by a doctor; HbA1c every 3 months as advised |
Warning signs: see a doctor today
A red, hot or swollen foot; a wound with pus or a bad smell; black or blue skin; or fever with a foot wound needs same-day care. Call 93196 62944. Samrijo Hospital is open 24×7.
- A blister, cut or crack that isn't healing in 2–3 days
- New numbness, tingling or burning
- Calf pain when walking that eases with rest
- Change in the shape of the foot, or a warm, swollen foot without injury
Control sugar, protect feet
Good sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol control slow down nerve and blood-vessel damage. Take your medicines as prescribed, check your sugar as advised, walk regularly (in proper shoes), and don't smoke. Ask your doctor to examine your feet at every diabetes check-up, and to test sensation at least once a year.
If you already have a foot wound
Don't wait for it to "dry up". Early treatment makes a big difference. Wound care, removing pressure from the wound (off-loading), treating infection and tight sugar control help most ulcers heal. Learn more about diabetic foot care and ulcer treatment at Samrijo Hospital, Burari.