Diabetes is a life long condition which can cause nerve and blood vessel damage, this can take away the feeling in your feet making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection. Therefore, make sure you check your feet daily and get them checked regularly by a diabetic nurse or foot health professional.

Advice on keeping your feet healthy

Inspect your feet daily, for blisters, breaks in the skin, pain or any signs of infection, heat or redness. If you are unable to do this yourself, ask someone close to you for help to check your feet. Call your GP if you have any concerns.

Bathe your feet daily in luke warm (never hot) water. 

Carefully dry your feet making sure to dry in between your toes. 

Wear clean, dry socks daily and consider socks made specifically made for people living with diabetes as these socks have extra cushioning and do not have elastic top so won’t restrict the blood flow. 

If your skin is dry and cracked use a 25% Urea cream use once a day until this improves. Avoid putting cream in between your toes as this can encourage a fungal infection.

Trim your nails regularly, every 6-8 weeks. You will find them easier to cut after a bath. Cut them straight across, in good light. Do not in any circumstances cut your nails to short and never cut the corners of your nails so short that you cut back into the nail groove. If this is difficult, seek the services of a qualified foot health professional.

Never walk about bare foot, not even at home.

Shake out your shoes and feel the inside before putting them on, this is to check for foreign objects that may pierce or rub your skin.

Never use over-the-counter corn remedies, they are not recommended for anyone with diabetes as they can damage the skin and create ulcers.

Take care of your diabetes by keeping your blood sugar levels under control.

Carefully read and follow the instructions on any medication that you purchase without prescription. If unsure about which treatment to use ask the pharmacist for a recommendation.