Why You Should Check Your Feet Every Day If You Have Diabetes

If you have diabetes, take 60 seconds every night to check your feet. Look at the tops, bottoms, heels, sides, and especially between your toes. It is one of the simplest things you can do to catch diabetic foot problems early.

This daily habit matters because diabetic neuropathy can reduce sensation in the feet, meaning you may have an injury, blister, cut, or sore without feeling it. The CDC specifically recommends that people with diabetes check their feet every day, even when their feet feel fine.

At AM Physicians in Columbus, Ohio, we provide diabetic foot examinations and evaluation of foot problems related to diabetes, including neuropathy, wounds, skin and nail changes, and other complications.

Why Is Daily Foot Checking So Important With Diabetes?

Diabetes can affect the feet in several ways. One of the most important is diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that commonly affects the feet and legs. Neuropathy can cause numbness, tingling, burning, pain, or loss of sensation. About one-third to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

The problem with numbness is simple: Pain normally tells you that something is wrong. If you cannot properly feel your feet, you may not notice that a shoe is rubbing, a blister has formed, or a small cut has developed.

A seemingly minor injury can become a larger wound if it continues to experience pressure or goes unnoticed. Diabetes can also affect blood flow and wound healing, increasing the risk that a foot wound can become infected or difficult to heal.

That's why “my feet feel fine” isn't enough. You need to look at them.

How to Check Your Feet Every Day

A daily diabetic foot check does not have to be complicated. Set aside about a minute each evening, like when you take off your shoes, and look carefully at both feet.

1. Look at the tops of your feet

Check for:

• Cuts or scratches

• Redness

• Swelling

• Blisters

• Bruising

• Changes in skin color

• Dry or cracked skin

• Changes around the toenails

2. Check the bottoms of your feet

This is an area that is easy to miss. Look for:

• Blisters

• Calluses

• Cracks

• Sores

• Red areas

• Skin breakdown

• Areas that look different from the other foot

If you cannot easily see the bottoms of your feet, use a handheld mirror.

The NIDDK specifically recommends using a mirror when you have difficulty seeing the bottoms of your feet, or asking someone else to help you inspect them.

3. Look between your toes

Don't skip this area. Check between every toe for:

• Cracks

• Redness

• Moist or broken skin

• Blisters

• Athlete's foot

• Other changes

The skin between the toes can be difficult to see without deliberately checking it.

4. Check your toenails

Look for changes such as:

• Redness around the nail

• Swelling

• Drainage

• Thickened or discolored nails

• Ingrown toenails

• Other unusual changes

5. Compare one foot with the other

Sometimes the most useful clue is simply that something looks different. Compare the:

• Color

• Temperature

• Shape

• Amount of swelling

• Skin condition

• Toenails

You don't need to be an expert at diagnosing your feet.

Your job is to notice that something has changed.

What Should You Do If You Find Something?

Don't ignore a new foot problem. Contact your healthcare provider or foot doctor if you notice a blister, sore, cut, redness, swelling, infection, ingrown toenail, or another significant change.

The CDC advises people with diabetes not to wait for their next routine appointment when they develop concerning foot symptoms. The ADA similarly recommends contacting your healthcare team when you notice problems and emphasizes that early treatment can help prevent complications from becoming more serious.

The earlier you find a problem, the sooner it can be addressed.

That is really the point of the daily check. You aren't necessarily trying to diagnose yourself. You're trying to catch changes early.

What If You Can't See Your Feet?

This is common, particularly for people with limited flexibility, vision problems, or other physical limitations.

There are several options:

• Use a mirror. Place a mirror where you can see the bottoms of your feet.

• Ask someone for help. A family member, caregiver, or another trusted person can help inspect areas that are difficult for you to see.

• Ask your podiatrist. Your healthcare team can show you what to look for and how to care for your feet.

NIDDK and the CDC both specifically recommend using a mirror or asking someone else for assistance when you cannot adequately see your feet.

Daily Checks Don't Replace Professional Diabetic Foot Exams

Checking your feet at home is important, but it is not a substitute for a professional diabetic foot examination.

NIDDK recommends that people with diabetes receive a thorough foot examination at least once a year, including evaluation of sensation and blood flow. People with certain risk factors or existing foot problems may need examinations more frequently.

A professional examination can evaluate things you may not be able to assess yourself, including:

• Protective sensation

• Nerve function

• Blood flow

• Skin condition

• Foot structure

• Pressure points

• Ulcers and wounds

• Other signs of diabetic foot complications

At AM Physicians, we perform diabetic foot examinations to help identify potential problems and determine whether additional treatment or monitoring is needed.

What Else Can You Do to Protect Your Diabetic Feet?

Daily inspection is only one part of diabetic foot care.

Other important habits include:

• Wear properly fitting shoes.

• Avoid going barefoot.

• Keep your feet clean and dry.

• Moisturize dry skin, but avoid putting lotion between the toes.

• Trim toenails appropriately.

• Don't try to remove corns or calluses yourself.

• Manage your blood glucose as recommended by your healthcare team.

• Follow your healthcare team's recommendations for physical activity.

• Have your feet examined regularly.

A 60-Second Habit That Could Make a Difference

You don't need special equipment. You don't need an elaborate routine. You just need to look at your feet every day. Take a minute when you take off your shoes at night. Look at the tops. Look at the bottoms. Look between your toes. Check your nails. If you can't see an area, use a mirror or ask someone to help.

And remember: don't rely on pain alone. If diabetic neuropathy has reduced your sensation, your feet may have a problem before you ever feel it.

If you have diabetes and notice a new blister, cut, sore, redness, swelling, drainage, discoloration, or another concerning change, contact your healthcare provider promptly. And if you need a professional diabetic foot examination in Columbus, Ohio, AM Physicians is here to help.

Your feet are worth the 60 seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a person with diabetes check their feet?

People with diabetes should check their feet every day. CDC and NIDDK recommend daily inspection because some diabetic foot problems may develop without causing noticeable pain.

Why should diabetics check their feet if they don't have pain?

Diabetic neuropathy can reduce the ability to feel pain, heat, cold, pressure, or injury. As a result, someone can have a blister, cut, or sore without realizing it.

What should I look for when checking my diabetic feet?

Look for cuts, sores, blisters, redness, swelling, cracks, calluses, skin changes, nail changes, drainage, or other abnormalities. Also check between your toes and the bottoms of your feet.

What if I can't see the bottom of my feet?

Use a mirror to inspect the bottoms of your feet or ask someone you trust to help.

How often should someone with diabetes have a professional foot exam?

A thorough diabetic foot examination should generally be performed at least once a year, with more frequent examinations recommended for people with neuropathy, previous ulcers, peripheral artery disease, or other risk factors.

When should I contact a doctor about a diabetic foot problem?

Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you notice a blister, sore, ulcer, cut, redness, swelling, infection, ingrown toenail, color or temperature change, or another new foot problem.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have diabetes and develop a new foot wound or other concerning change, contact your healthcare provider promptly.

Sources used

• CDC — Your Feet and Diabetes

• NIDDK — Diabetes & Foot Problems

• NIDDK — Peripheral Neuropathy

• American Diabetes Association — Steps to Prevent or Delay Diabetes Nerve Damage

• American Diabetes Association — Foot Complications

• CDC — Your Diabetes Care Schedule