Skip to main content
  • More from ADA
    • Diabetes
    • Diabetes Care
    • Diabetes Spectrum
    • ADA Standards of Medical Care
    • ADA Standards of Medical Care, Abridged
    • ADA Scientific Sessions Abstracts
    • BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care
  • Subscribe
  • Log in
  • Manage Online Access
  • Log out
  • Follow ada on Twitter
  • RSS
  • Visit ada on Facebook
Clinical Diabetes

Advanced Search

Main menu

  • Home
  • Current
    • Current Issue
    • Online Ahead of Print
    • ADA Standards of Medical Care
    • ADA Standards of Medical Care, Abridged
  • Browse
    • Issue Archive
    • Saved Searches
    • Quality Improvement Sucess Stories
    • ADA Standards of Medical Care
  • Info
    • About the Journal
    • About the Editors
    • ADA Journal Policies
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Guidance for Reviewers
  • Advertising
  • Reprints/Reuse
  • Subscriptions
    • Manage Online Access
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
  • Alerts
    • E­mail Alerts
    • RSS Feeds
  • Podcast
  • Submit
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Submit Cover Art
    • Instructions for Authors
    • ADA Journal Policies
  • More from ADA
    • Diabetes
    • Diabetes Care
    • Diabetes Spectrum
    • ADA Standards of Medical Care
    • ADA Standards of Medical Care, Abridged
    • ADA Scientific Sessions Abstracts
    • BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care

User menu

  • Subscribe
  • Log in
  • Manage Online Access
  • Log out

Search

  • Advanced search
Clinical Diabetes
  • Home
  • Current
    • Current Issue
    • Online Ahead of Print
    • ADA Standards of Medical Care
    • ADA Standards of Medical Care, Abridged
  • Browse
    • Issue Archive
    • Saved Searches
    • Quality Improvement Sucess Stories
    • ADA Standards of Medical Care
  • Info
    • About the Journal
    • About the Editors
    • ADA Journal Policies
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Guidance for Reviewers
  • Advertising
  • Reprints/Reuse
  • Subscriptions
    • Manage Online Access
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
  • Alerts
    • E­mail Alerts
    • RSS Feeds
  • Podcast
  • Submit
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Submit Cover Art
    • Instructions for Authors
    • ADA Journal Policies
Departments

Take Good Care of Your Feet

Clinical Diabetes 2006 Apr; 24(2): 94-94. https://doi.org/10.2337/diaclin.24.2.94
PreviousNext
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

If you have diabetes, it's important to take care of your feet. Diabetes can cause nerve damage that makes it hard to tell if you have a foot injury. When foot injuries go unnoticed, they can worsen and become infected, sometimes leading to hospitalization or even amputation.

To prevent foot problems:

  1. Get regular exams. Your health care provider should examine your feet at least once a year. Taking off your shoes and socks while you wait for the doctor can be a helpful reminder.

  2. Keep your feet clean and dry. Wash your feet every day and dry them carefully, especially between the toes.

  3. Check for injuries. Check your feet daily for blisters, red marks, cuts, scratches, and infections. Look between your toes. Use a mirror to help you see the bottom of your feet. Ask a family member or friend if you need help. If you notice any injuries or changes in foot color, shape, or feeling, call or see your doctor.

  4. Protect your feet from heat and cold. Wear shoes at the beach and on hot pavement. Test bath water with your hand to be sure it isn't too hot. Never use hot water bottles, heating pads, or electric blankets. If your feet feel cold at night, wear socks.

  5. Never walk barefoot, not even indoors. Wear comfortable shoes that fit well and protect your feet. Check inside your shoes before wearing them. Make sure the lining is smooth and there are no objects inside. Don't wear sandals with toe straps, and don't wear shoes without socks.

  6. Buy shoes that are comfortable at the time of purchase. Wear new shoes for only 1 hour indoors the first day. Check your feet for blisters, and slowly increase the wearing time each day.

  7. Wear clean, properly fitting socks. Don't wear socks that have been mended or have holes. Padded athletic socks can give extra protection.

  8. See a doctor or podiatrist for corn and callus removal. Don't use chemical products or try to cut them yourself. Tell your provider that you have diabetes.

  9. Trim your toenails straight across. If you need help, see your doctor or podiatrist.

  10. Protect your circulation. Put your feet up when you sit. Wiggle your toes and flex your feet up and down from time to time during the day. Don't cross your legs for long periods of time. Don't smoke.

Footnotes

  • American Diabetes Association
View Abstract
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this Issue

April 2006, 24(2)
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by Author
Sign up to receive current issue alerts
View Selected Citations (0)
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about Clinical Diabetes.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Take Good Care of Your Feet
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from Clinical Diabetes
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the Clinical Diabetes web site.
Citation Tools
Take Good Care of Your Feet
Clinical Diabetes Apr 2006, 24 (2) 94; DOI: 10.2337/diaclin.24.2.94

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Add to Selected Citations
Share

Take Good Care of Your Feet
Clinical Diabetes Apr 2006, 24 (2) 94; DOI: 10.2337/diaclin.24.2.94
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Footnotes
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

  • Targeting IA-2 and GAD65 as a Cost-Saving Approach for Antibody Testing in Children With New-Onset Diabetes
  • Armed With ADA’s “Standards of Care”
  • Integration of Around-the-Clock Clinical Pharmacy Specialists Into the Critical Care Team Can Increase Safety of Hyperglycemic Crisis Management
Show more Departments

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Current Issue
  • Papers in Press
  • Archives
  • Submit
  • Subscribe
  • Email Alerts
  • RSS Feeds

More Information

  • About the Journal
  • Instructions for Authors
  • Journal Policies
  • Reprints and Permissions
  • Privacy Notice/Terms of Use
  • Advertising
  • Copyright Notice and Public Access Policy
  • Contact Us

Other ADA Resources

  • Diabetes
  • Diabetes Care
  • Diabetes Spectrum
  • Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes
  • BMJ Open - Diabetes Research & Care
  • Scientific Sessions Abstracts
  • Professional Books
  • Diabetes Forecast

 

  • DiabetesJournals.org
  • Diabetes Core Update
  • ADA's DiabetesPro
  • ADA Member Directory
  • Diabetes.org

© 2019 by the American Diabetes Association. Clinical Diabetes Print ISSN: 0891-8929, Online ISSN: 1945-4953.