When you have diabetes, you'll need to check your feet every day.
Using this checklist can help you remember to examine all areas of your feet.
Check your feet for: |
What to do if you notice a problem |
---|---|
Skin color changes:
|
|
Patches where hair is missing |
Bald patches may mean irritation from shoes or a blood flow problem. Show the areas to your doctor during your next visit. |
Blister |
Try to discover the cause of the blister. Friction or rubbing against your skin causes blisters. You may need new shoes.
|
Break in your skin |
Check the underside of your toes and the area between the toes for breaks in the skin.
|
Calluses (hardened areas of skin) and corns (pressure injuries, usually found on or between toes) |
Show the area to your doctor at your next visit. This is very important.
|
Peeling skin or tiny blisters between your toes or cracking and oozing of the skin |
This may be athlete's foot. Treating athlete's foot early can prevent serious foot infections.
|
Moisture between your toes |
Dry between your toes well. Moisture between your toes provides a good place for bacteria and fungi to grow, causing infection. |
Numbness, burning, or "pins and needles" feeling |
Call your doctor if you have new numbness or tingling in your feet that does not go away after changing position. |
Sore (ulcer) |
Call your doctor immediately. Do not try to treat a foot ulcer at home. If you check your feet regularly, you usually will see a problem before it becomes an ulcer. |
Ingrown toenail |
Call your doctor for an appointment. Do not treat an ingrown toenail at home. |
Current as of: April 13, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & David C.W. Lau MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology
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