Looking after your feet

Diabetes can reduce the blood supply to your feet and cause a loss of feeling. This is called peripheral neuropathy.

It develops when nerves in the body’s extremities, such as the feet, are damaged. This can mean injuries to your feet might not heal well, and you may not notice if your foot is sore or injured.

Diabetes can also affect the blood supply to your legs and feet. This can make your feet feel cold and sometimes causes pain in your calves when walking.

Unfortunately, diabetes leads to 169 amputations a week. That's 24 amputations a day and 1 amputation every hour.

Looking after your feet well could prevent this from happening. It's important to have annual foot checks and know the signs.

Basic foot care tips

Looking after your feet every day can be challenging, especially if you’ve lost any sensation in them.

If this is the case, speaking to your healthcare team is a good idea, as you may need help from a podiatrist.

Here are some essential tips:

• Have your feet checked as part of your annual diabetes review
• Check your feet every day to make sure things don’t get worse quickly if there is a problem
• Keep your feet clean to help avoid infection
• Wear shoes that don’t squeeze or rub. Ill-fitting shoes can cause corns and calluses, ulcers and nail problems
• Never walk barefoot, especially in the garden or on the beach, to avoid getting cuts
• Be careful when cutting your nails. Cut them often but not too short or down the side. It’s best to use nail clippers and then an emery board to file down any corners.
• Use moisturiser every day to keep your skin healthy. Ask your healthcare professional which is the best emollient cream for you. But avoid getting the cream between your toes, which can cause problems.

When to see a doctor

Speak to your GP if you notice that blisters or injuries on your feet aren't healing as you'd expect.

You should seek urgent care if:

• you notice breaks in the skin of your foot or discharge seeping from the wound
• the skin over part or all of the foot changes colour and becomes more red, blue, pale or dark
• you notice extra swelling in your feet where there was a blister or injury
• there is redness or swelling around an ulcer or in an area where you have previously been warned to seek immediate attention.

A trained professional should check your bare feet once a year. It’s an excellent chance to check anything you might have spotted with them yourself. But don’t wait a whole year to ask them.

If you notice a problem – get it seen as soon as possible.

When you see your foot specialist, ask them as many questions as you can. They will help you best monitor your feet to notice any changes.‍


Your annual foot check

Your foot check is part of your annual review. You should have it as part of your diabetes care, and it's free on the NHS.

This will usually take place at your GP's surgery.

You’ll need to take off any dressings and footwear, including socks and tights, so your feet can be examined.

Numbness or changes in sensation (also known as neuropathy) will be tested with special equipment. They’ll also check your shoes to ensure they’re not causing problems.

You’ll also be asked lots of questions about your feet and how you manage your diabetes. Such as:

• if you have had any problems
• noticed any changes like cuts or corns
• if you have any cramp-like pains when walking
• how often you check your feet.