Quick answer: If you have diabetes, check your feet every day, wash and dry them carefully, wear proper shoes and never walk barefoot. Treat any cut, blister or colour change as urgent and see a doctor within a day. Most diabetic foot ulcers can be prevented.
In this article
Over time, high blood sugar can damage the nerves in the feet (so you cannot feel pain, heat or injury) and narrow the blood vessels (so wounds heal slowly). A small blister or cut can quietly become an ulcer or infection. The good news is that careful daily care prevents most serious foot problems. If you are not sure how well your diabetes is controlled, start with our diabetes guide.
Daily foot-care routine
- Look at both feet every day, including the soles and between the toes. Use a mirror or ask a family member if you cannot see them well.
- Wash with lukewarm water and mild soap. Test the water with your elbow, not your foot, because you may not feel burns.
- Dry carefully, especially between the toes, to prevent fungal infection.
- Moisturise the tops and soles if the skin is dry, but not between the toes.
- Check inside your shoes for stones, rough seams or anything sharp before putting them on.
- Wear clean, dry, soft socks without tight elastic.
Shoes and nail care
- Choose well-fitting, closed shoes with enough room for your toes. Buy shoes in the afternoon, when feet are slightly swollen.
- Never walk barefoot, even at home, on the roof, in the mosque courtyard or on hot ground.
- Cut nails straight across and file sharp edges. If you cannot see or reach your nails, ask someone to help or visit a foot-care professional.
- Do not cut corns or calluses yourself, and avoid medicated corn plasters, which can burn the skin.
- Avoid hot water bottles and heaters near the feet.
Warning signs: see a doctor within a day
- A cut, blister, sore or crack that does not start healing in a day or two
- Redness, warmth, swelling or pus
- A bad smell or fluid from a wound
- Black or blue skin, or skin that turns pale or cold
- New numbness, burning, tingling or pain in the feet
- Fever or feeling unwell with a foot wound
A foot infection can spread quickly in people with diabetes. Do not wait to see if it gets better, and do not apply home remedies to open wounds.
Reduce your risk
- Keep blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol in your target range
- Stop smoking, which reduces blood flow to the feet
- Have your feet examined by a doctor at least once a year, and at every visit if you have numbness or deformity
- Lose weight if you are overweight; see our weight management guide
When to see an endocrinologist
See a specialist if you have long-standing diabetes, numbness or burning in the feet, a foot sore, high sugars despite treatment, or any other complications such as eye or kidney problems.
Frequently asked questions
Why do people with diabetes get foot ulcers?
High blood sugar over many years can damage the nerves, so injuries go unnoticed, and it can narrow blood vessels, so wounds heal slowly. Pressure from poor footwear then causes sores.
Can I walk barefoot at home if I have diabetes?
It is safer to wear soft indoor shoes or slippers. Small cuts, hot floors and sharp objects can injure feet without you feeling them.
How often should a doctor check my feet?
At least once a year, and more often if you already have numbness, foot deformity, poor circulation or have had a foot ulcer.
Is it safe to soak my feet?
Avoid long soaking, because it can soften and damage the skin. Wash briefly in lukewarm water and dry well.
Book a consultation with Dr. Junaid Iqbal
Evening clinic Monday to Saturday, 5:00–9:00 PM at City Clinic, Muzaffargarh.
WhatsApp Call +92 313 7667979This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always speak to a qualified doctor about your own health.