![\"Group](\"http://www.cdc.gov/features/diabetesfoothealth/diabetesfoothealth_456px.jpg\")
\n If you have diabetes, here\u2019s a way to keep standing on your own two feet: check them every day\u2014even if they feel fine\u2014and see your doctor if you have a cut or blister that won\u2019t heal.
\nThere\u2019s a lot to manage if you have diabetes: checking your blood sugar, making healthy food, finding time to be active, taking medicines, going to doctor\u2019s appointments. With all that, your feet might be the last thing on your mind. But daily care is one of the best ways to prevent foot complications.
\nBetween 60% and 70% of people with diabetes have diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). You can have nerve damage in any part of your body, but nerves in your feet and legs are most often affected. Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet.
\nFeeling No Pain
\nSome people with nerve damage have numbness, tingling, or pain, but others have no symptoms. Nerve damage can also lower your ability to feel pain, heat, or cold.
\nLiving without pain sounds pretty good, but it comes at a high cost. Pain is the body\u2019s way of telling you something\u2019s wrong so you can take care of yourself. If you don\u2019t feel pain in your feet, you may not notice a cut, blister, sore, or other problem. Small problems can become serious if they aren\u2019t treated early.
\nRisk Factors
\nAnyone with diabetes can develop nerve damage, but these factors increase your risk:
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- Blood sugar levels that are hard to control \n
- Having diabetes for a long time, especially if your blood sugar is often higher than your target levels \n
- Being overweight \n
- Being older than 40 years \n
- Having high blood pressure \n
- Having high cholesterol [281 KB] \n
Nerve damage, along with poor circulation\u2014another diabetes complication\u2014puts you at risk for developing a foot ulcer (a sore or wound) that could get infected and not heal well. If an infection doesn\u2019t get better with treatment, your toe, foot, or part of your leg may need to be amputated (removed by surgery) to prevent the infection from spreading and to save your life.
\nWhen you check your feet every day, you can catch problems early and get them treated right away. Early treatment greatly reduces your risk of amputation.
\nStart Off on the Right Foot
\nWhat\u2019s the most important thing you can do to prevent nerve damage or stop it from getting worse? Keep your blood sugar in your target range as much as possible. Other good diabetes management habits can help, too:
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- Don\u2019t smoke. Smoking reduces blood flow to the feet. \n
- Follow a healthy eating plan, including eating more fruits and vegetables and less sugar and salt. \n
- Get physically active \u201410 to 20 minutes a day is better than an hour once a week. \n
- Take medicines [442 KB] as prescribed by your doctor. \n
![\"Pair](\"http://www.cdc.gov/features/diabetesfoothealth/diabetesfoothealth_a250px.jpg\")
\n Get to the bottom of any foot problems by using a mirror or asking for help.
\nTips for Healthy Feet
\nCheck your feet every day for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, or any other change to the skin or nails. Use a mirror if you can\u2019t see the bottom of your feet, or ask a family member to help.
\nWash your feet every day in warm (not hot) water. Don\u2019t soak your feet. Dry your feet completely and apply lotion to the top and bottom\u2014but not between your toes, which could lead to infection.
\nNever go barefoot. Always wear shoes and socks or slippers, even inside, to avoid injury. Check that there aren\u2019t any pebbles or other objects inside your shoes and that the lining is smooth.
\nWear shoes that fit well. For the best fit, try on new shoes at the end of the day when your feet tend to be largest. Break in your new shoes slowly\u2014wear them for an hour or two a day at first until they\u2019re completely comfortable. Always wear socks with your shoes.
\nTrim your toenails straight across and gently smooth any sharp edges with an emery board. Have your foot doctor (podiatrist) trim your toenails if you can\u2019t see or reach your feet.
\nDon\u2019t remove corns or calluses yourself, and especially don\u2019t use over-the-counter products to remove them\u2014they could burn your skin.
\nGet your feet checked at every health care visit. Also, visit your foot doctor every year (more often if you have nerve damage) for a thorough exam, which will include checking for feeling and blood flow in your feet.
\nKeep the blood flowing. Put your feet up when you\u2019re sitting, and wiggle your toes for a few minutes several times throughout the day.
\nChoose feet-friendly activities like walking, riding a bike, or swimming. Be sure to check with your doctor about which activities are best for you and any you should avoid.
\nBe sure to ask your doctor what else you can do to keep your feet healthy.
\nWhen To See Your Doctor
\nIf you experience any of these symptoms, don\u2019t wait for your next appointment. See your regular doctor or foot doctor right away:
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- Pain in your legs or cramping in your buttocks, thighs, or calves during physical activity. \n
- Tingling, burning, or pain in your feet. \n
- Loss of sense of touch or ability to feel heat or cold very well. \n
- A change in the shape of your feet over time. \n
- Loss of hair on your toes, feet, and lower legs. \n
- Dry, cracked skin on your feet. \n
- A change in the color and temperature of your feet. \n
- Thickened, yellow toenails. \n
- Fungus infections such as athlete\u2019s foot between your toes. \n
- A blister, sore, ulcer, infected corn, or ingrown toenail. \n
Most people with diabetes can prevent serious foot complications. Regular care at home and going to all doctor\u2019s appointments are your best bet for preventing foot problems (and stopping small problems from becoming serious ones).
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