Non-urgent advice: What is Diabetic Foot Care?
Top 11 Tips to remember to keep your feet healthy!

If you smoke, stop
Smoking makes it harder for blood to circulate and move around your body, including to your feet. This puts you at even more of a risk of amputation.
Manage your blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure
Keeping your blood sugar levels as close to your target range as possible can be difficult but can help prevent damage to your feet or stop the damage from getting worse.
You can go on courses to help you manage your diabetes. Speak to a healthcare professional about which course is right for you


Check your feet every day
Because of your diabetes, foot problems can get worse quickly, especially if the feeling in your feet has changed. That’s why it’s important to check them every day.
Look at your feet before you put your socks on in the morning and before you go to bed. If you notice any changes, see a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
If you struggle to lift your feet up, try using a mirror to check the bottom of your feet. Make sure you’re sitting or lying down if you’re using a mirror. Or you could get someone else to check your feet for you. If you live alone, ask a healthcare professional about how to check your feet.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet and keep active
Get support from a dietitian so you know what foods can help you manage your condition and how food affects you.
Keeping active will help you manage your diabetes and reduce your risk of serious foot complications. Being active can be difficult, especially if you have problems with your feet or other issues with moving around.


Cut your nails carefully
If you have diabetes, cutting your skin by mistake can lead to other problems like ulcers or infections. And you might not even notice you’ve done it.
So, take care when you cut your toenails:
- Cut them often but not too short or down the side.
- Trim them with nail clippers and then use an emery board to file any corners.
- Clean them gently with a nail brush. Don’t use the sharp points of scissors to clean as this isn’t safe.
If you’ve lost some feeling in your feet or you’re worried about things like ingrown toenails, see a foot specialist. They’re used to helping with these things.
Rejuvenate Responsibly
Washing your feet and toenails everyday will keep them clean and free from infection. Do this with a mix of soap and warm water.
Always check the temperature with your wrist or elbow before you put your feet in. Use only lukewarm water—the temperature you would use on a new-born baby.
Avoid soaking your feet as this just makes the skin more likely to get damaged.
Wash them using a soft washcloth or sponge. Dry by blotting or patting and carefully dry between the toes.


Cover them correctly
Wear clean, dry socks. Change them daily.
Consider socks made specifically for patients living with diabetes. These socks have extra cushioning, do not have elastic tops, are higher than the ankle and are made from fibers that wick moisture away from the skin.
Wear socks to bed. If your feet get cold at night, wear socks. Never use a heating pad or a hot water bottle.
Keep your feet warm and dry. Don’t let your feet get wet in snow or rain. Wear warm socks and shoes in winter.
Consider using an antiperspirant on the soles of your feet. This is helpful if you have excessive sweating of the feet.
Never walk barefoot. Not even at home! Always wear shoes or slippers. You could step on something and get a scratch or cut.
Make sure your footwear fits
Avoid shoes or socks that are too tight, too loose or rub. Shoes that don’t fit well, even those that feel comfortable, can cause problems or make existing conditions worse. As can old inner shoe linings or insoles, or socks with holes or thick seams.
Check your footwear inside and out before putting them on. Make sure nothing sharp like a drawing pin has gone through the sole at the bottom of the shoe. And that nothing has fallen into them.
Choose your footwear carefully.
It’s good to buy shoes that:
- are wide fitting
- have a deep and rounded toe area
- are flat or low heeled
- are fastened by a lace or buckle to stop your feet from sliding around.
Wear new shoes around the house for a short time (20-30 minutes) to check they are comfortable and do not rub.
Shoes that have only been worn inside and for a short time can usually be taken back to the shop if they do not fit well.


Use moisturising cream every day
Using emollient cream, especially if it has a urea base, will keep your skin healthy. Emollients are moisturising treatments applied directly to the skin to soothe and hydrate it. Talk to your healthcare team about which emollient cream is right for you.
Don’t put cream between your toes, as this can cause problems. The same for talcum powder, if it gets clogged up between your toes, it could make them too dry or cause rubbing between the toes that can affect the skin.
Don’t use blades or corn plasters
Avoid plasters, creams and sprays for removing corns or a verruca. They can burn your skin and cause ulcers. Don’t use blades on your corns or tough skin as they could damage it. Pumice stones can help with tough skin but use them with care. If you need help with corns or other skin problems, speak to a podiatrist.


Get expert advice
A trained professional should check your bare feet as part of your annual diabetes health check. But if you notice a problem with your foot sooner, ask for an appointment to get it checked as soon as you can rather than wait for your usual check.
Once you’ve had your annual foot check, you should find out your risk of developing a serious foot problem. If you’re moderate or high risk, your healthcare professional should explain exactly what this means and refer you for monitoring. They’ll also tell you if you need to see a foot specialist.
Ask your foot specialist questions. The more you know, the more you can check any changes in your feet.