Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
Diabetes can affect the foot’s skin, blood vessels, nerves, and structure, increasing the risk of ulcers and infections.
Daily foot checks, proper footwear, regular nail trims, and moisturizing are key preventive measures in diabetic foot care.
Annual exams by a podiatrist are recommended to monitor foot health, although some people with poor blood sugar control or existing foot issues should get checked more often.
Are you incorporating diabetic foot care into your daily self-care routine? All people with diabetes, including those with type 1 or type 2, should prioritize foot health to prevent ulcers (sores), infection, or the loss of a limb in severe cases.
Let’s briefly review why diabetic foot care should be a priority. Then, we’ll discuss six simple tips you can follow to prevent foot problems.
How Can Diabetes Affect Foot Health?
Diabetes can impact the foot’s skin, blood vessels, nerves, and structure. These changes increase the risk of complications, like foot and toe ulcers. (1)
Skin: Chronic diabetes can affect skin moisture. Dry feet can become inflamed and cracked, which increases the risk of ulcers.
Blood vessels: High blood sugar can damage blood vessels. Lack of blood flow can lead to foot sores, delayed wound healing, and tissue decay (in severe cases).
Nerves: Persistently high blood sugar can also cause diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage that can cause numbness, burning, tingling, or pain. Neuropathy can make it difficult to notice skin cuts or irritation, increasing the risk of ulcers.
Structure: Over time, people with diabetes may develop structural changes to their feet and toes. Some people may develop ankle and toe mobility issues (like hammertoe), creating new vulnerable areas for skin pressure from footwear and tissue breakdown.
Once the foot develops a cut or an ulcer, it can be difficult to heal and may lead to a serious infection. However, these easy care tips can help you keep your feet healthy.
Top 6 Diabetic Foot Care Tips
Below are six simple diabetic foot care tips that can help you maintain foot health, catch symptoms early, and prevent injuries from worsening. Keep in mind that these are general recommendations. This list shouldn’t override your doctor’s advice regarding your specific symptoms and health needs. (2, 3)
1. Check Your Feet Daily
Look for any skin changes around your ankles, on the tops and soles of your feet, and between your toes. Ulcers usually develop where your foot repeatedly rubs on a shoe. Note any skin color changes, blisters, cracks, or cuts and address them immediately.
Don’t forget to check your nails for discoloration or thickening, which could be a sign of fungal infection. Hair loss, odd sensations, or changes in foot or toe shape are also important symptoms to write down and share with a healthcare provider right away.
2. Trim Your Toenails
Cut your nails straight across and smooth sharp edges with a file. Rounding your nails increases the chance of ingrowns. Ask a podiatrist for help if you have difficulty cutting your own nails.
If you have corns or calluses (rough patches of skin), ask your podiatrist how to treat them. Your doctor may remove them for you or teach you how to use a gentle tool, like a pumice stone, to smooth these areas. Cutting or using over-the-counter liquids or pads to remove calluses isn’t recommended because they can damage your skin or cause infection. (4)
3. Wear the Right Shoes
Make sure your socks and shoes fit well to avoid pinched toes, pressure points, and excessive rubbing. Some people with diabetes benefit from special insoles (orthotics) to help prevent sores, and moisture-wicking socks can help keep your feet clean and dry.
You should also avoid walking barefoot. Wearing shoes or slippers at home can provide extra protection against potential nicks. You may also want to choose your footwear wisely to protect your skin against the elements. Wearing sandals at the beach without sunscreen — or wearing non-protective footwear in cold weather — can cause skin damage.
Medicool Inc European Diabetic Comfort Socks - Black
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The Medicool European black diabetic comfort sock is a premium sock designed specifically for those with diabetes. They are cotton socks without elastic and elastomere. These European black diabetic comfort socks are guaranteed not to slip, sag or bind so… read more
4. Keep Blood Flowing
Stimulate blood circulation by moving often. Walking, biking, and yoga are generally gentle on the feet, but ask your doctor which exercises are safe for you. (4) Some people have to sit for long periods, like commuting to work or sitting in the office. In this case, wiggle your toes and pump your feet while seated, and take regular walking breaks to keep your blood pumping.
Smoking can also damage blood vessels and worsen your circulation, which can contribute to foot health issues. If you’re having trouble quitting, ask your doctor for help.
5. Wash and Moisturize
Use warm water and gentle soap to wash your feet every day. Be sure to pat-dry them completely, including between the toes, to prevent fungal infection.
Once your feet are dry, apply moisturizer to the tops and bottoms. Not all moisturizers are suitable for people with diabetes, so ask your podiatrist for recommendations that retain moisture and contain few to no irritants (such as fragrance).
Our shop at Total Diabetes Supply carries Biotone, a brand that offers creams and ointments to help people with diabetes moisturize their skin and relieve pain. Here are two products recommended for people with foot dryness or nerve discomfort:
Ease-Z Diabetics Dry Skin Therapy Foot Cream: Helps moisturize dry, cracked, itchy feet with zinc acetate, an active ingredient that helps create a protective barrier against irritation.
EASE-Z Diabetics Dry Skin Therapy Foot Cream
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EASE-Z Diabetics’ Dry Skin Foot Cream is a diabetic's solution for dry, cracked itchy feet. Contains active ingredient ZINC Acetate adding a protective barrier and promotes the healing of minor sores and wounds. Can be used daily to reveal powerful results… read more
- EASE-Z Pain Relieving Foot Cream: Contains zinc acetate, capsaicin, and menthol to provide fast-acting relief from burning, shooting nerve pain.
EASE-Z Diabetics Pain Relieving Foot Cream
$ 20.15
$ 24.45
EASE-Z Diabetics’ Pain-Relieving Foot Cream is an over the counter, fast-acting diabetic pain and nerve damage lotion. Contains active ingredient ZINC Acetate. Helps in relief of shooting, tingling, and burning foot pain, many diabetics may experience. Can be used daily… read more
6. Get a Foot Exam
When you see your doctor, ask them to perform a basic inspection of your feet. They may catch skin changes or injuries that are difficult to notice.
You should also schedule a diabetes foot exam at least once per year with a podiatrist for a more thorough check-up that examines your foot’s nerves, joints, and circulation. People who have more difficulty controlling their blood sugar or blood pressure should get their feet checked every three to six months. (5) If you have structural changes to your feet, neuropathy, circulatory conditions (like peripheral artery disease), or a history of foot ulcers or amputations, you should receive a thorough exam at each doctor’s visit. (4)
When to Talk to Your Doctor
If you notice any changes during your daily diabetic foot care, talk to your doctor about next steps. Some new or unchanged symptoms should be addressed immediately, including the ones below. (3)
Persistent cuts or sores
Burning or tingling
Numbness
Skin color changes
Skin temperature changes
Thick or discolored toenails
Hair loss in your lower legs and feet
Dry and cracking skin
Odd smell from a wound
Bottom Line
Diabetes can impact sensation and circulation in your feet, making them susceptible to injury or serious infection. Diabetic foot checks should be part of your routine, and applying the tips above can help prevent complications. You can visit Total Diabetes Supply to find foot care products, including a wide selection of shoes, socks, and ointments.
If you notice new or unchanged symptoms, contact your doctor immediately to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you. While over-the-counter products may help some symptoms, they’re not always appropriate.
References
Song, K., & Chambers, A. R. (2025, September 15). Diabetic foot care. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553110/
Diabetes foot care: Tips for healthy feet & preventing complications. (n.d.). https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/diabetes-and-your-feet/foot-care-tips
Diabetes-Related Foot Conditions. (2025, September 24). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21510-diabetic-feet
Diabetes and Foot Problems. (2025, August 12). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/foot-problems
Promoting foot health. (2024, May 15). Diabetes. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/hcp/clinical-guidance/diabetes-podiatrist-health.html
FAQs
How often should people with diabetes receive foot care?
People with diabetes should check their feet at least once per day. They should also incorporate foot care into their daily self-care regimen, such as moisturizing their feet and trimming their nails properly. Check-ups are a good opportunity to ask your doctor to visually inspect your feet, but you should schedule an official diabetic foot exam annually for more thorough testing.
Who should practice diabetic foot care?
All people, regardless of diabetes type or severity, should practice diabetic foot care daily. Those at higher risk of skin breakdown and infection, including those with diabetic neuropathy or circulation problems, should be especially careful to protect their feet from injury.
What part of the foot hurts with diabetes?
People with diabetes can experience pain anywhere in the legs, ankles, feet, and toes. Discomfort from diabetic neuropathy often starts at the toes and works its way toward the foot and ankle. People with circulatory issues may experience exercise-induced pain in the lower legs, known as intermittent claudication. Joint pain and stiffness from structural changes can affect any part of the foot, and ulcers can form wherever there is repeated pressure or friction.
