Daily Foot Check Tool

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Diabetes can cause nerve damage and reduced blood flow, making it harder to feel injuries and slower for wounds to heal. Checking your feet every day can help you find small problems before they become serious. Use a mirror or ask a family member or caregiver for help if you cannot see the bottoms of your feet. 

Check for:

• Redness or discoloration 
• Swelling 
• Cuts or scratches 
• Blisters 
• Bruising 
• Dry or cracked skin 
• Areas that look unusually warm or irritated 

 Compare one foot with the other. A new change in color, temperature, or swelling should be discussed with a healthcare professional.  

Use a mirror to inspect areas that are difficult to see.

Look for:

• Open areas or sores 
• Calluses or corns 
• Cracks in the heel 
• Dark or red spots 
• Bruising 
• Blisters 
• Drainage or moisture 
• Areas of unusual pressure 

 Do not cut, shave, or use medicated products on corns or calluses without guidance from a healthcare professional.  

Gently separate each toe and check for:

• Cracks or breaks in the skin 
• Redness 
• Moisture 
• Peeling skin 
• White or softened skin 
• Signs of athlete’s foot 
• Drainage or odor 

Dry carefully between the toes after washing. Avoid applying lotion between the toes because excess moisture may increase the risk of infection. 

Look for:

• Ingrown toenails 
• Thick or yellow nails 
• Cracked or broken nails 
• Redness or swelling around the nail 
• Drainage 
• Signs of a fungal infection 

Trim toenails straight across and smooth sharp edges with a nail file. Ask a podiatrist or healthcare professional for help if your nails are thick, difficult to trim, or if you have poor circulation or reduced sensation. 

Use the back of your hand to compare both feet.

Notice whether either foot feels:

• Warmer or colder than usual 
• More swollen 
• Tender 
• Firm or soft in a new area 
• Different from the other foot 

A new warm spot may indicate pressure or inflammation, even when the skin is not open. 

Wash your feet daily with warm—not hot—water and mild soap.

• Do not soak your feet. 
• Dry gently and completely. 
• Remember to dry between each toe. 
• Apply moisturizer to the tops and bottoms of the feet. 
• Do not place moisturizer between the toes.  

Test the water temperature with your hand, elbow, or a thermometer if you have reduced sensation.

Before wearing your shoes:

• Feel inside for stones, rough seams, or foreign objects. 
• Check for torn lining or sharp areas. 
• Make sure the shoes fit properly. 
• Wear clean socks. 
• Never walk barefoot, even inside the home. 

 Contact a Healthcare Professional Promptly If You Notice 

•  A cut, blister, crack, or sore 
• Redness, warmth, swelling, or drainage 
• A bad odor 
• Black, blue, pale, or rapidly changing skin color 
• An ingrown toenail or infected corn 
• New numbness, burning, or pain 
• A wound that is not improving 
• Fever or chills with a foot problem  
• A new change in color, temperature

Do not wait for pain. Nerve damage may prevent a person with diabetes from feeling an injury.