Take Care of Your Feet 

for a Lifetime

A booklet for people with diabetes

ENGLISH
Do you want to lower your 

chances of getting foot problems 

that can lead to the loss of a toe, 

foot, or leg? 

This booklet tells you how. It’s all 

about taking care of your feet.

Even if you have had diabetes for 

a long time, this booklet can help 

you learn more. Use it to help you 

make your own plan for taking 

care of your feet.

Share your plan with your doctor 

and health care team and get their 

help when you need it.

REMINDER Call your doctor right away if a cut, 

blister, or bruise on your foot does not 

begin to heal after a few days.
Why is foot care important?

Over time, diabetes can cause you to 

lose feeling in your feet. When you lose 

feeling in your feet, you may not feel 

a pebble inside your sock or a blister on 

your foot, which can lead to cuts and 

sores. Diabetes also can lower the amount 

of blood flow in your feet. Numbness 

and less blood flow in the feet can lead 

to foot problems. 

Foot care is very important for all people 

with diabetes, but even more so if you have:

u pain or loss of feeling in your feet 

(numbness, tingling)

u changes in the shape of your feet or toes

u sores, cuts, or ulcers on your feet that 

do not heal 

If you take care of your feet every day, 

you can lower your chances of losing a 

toe, foot, or leg. Managing your blood 

sugar can also help keep your feet healthy. 

Work with your health care team to make 

a diabetes plan that fits your lifestyle and 

includes foot care. The team may include 

your doctor, a diabetes educator, a nurse, 

a foot doctor (podiatrist) and other 

specialists who can help you manage 

your diabetes. 

1
1 Check your feet every day.

u Check your feet for cuts, sores, red spots, 

swelling, and infected toenails. You may 

have foot problems, but feel no pain in 

your feet.

u Check your feet each evening when you 

take off your shoes.

u If you have trouble bending over to see 

your feet, use a mirror to help. You can 

also ask a family member or caregiver to 

help you. 

2

Check your feet every day. 
2 Wash your feet every day.

u Wash your feet in warm, not hot, water. 

Do not soak your feet because your skin 

will get dry.

u Before bathing or showering, test the 

water to make sure it is not too hot. You 

can use a thermometer (90° to 95° F is 

safe) or your elbow to test the water. 

u Use talcum powder or cornstarch to 

keep the skin between your toes dry to 

prevent infection.

3 Keep the skin soft and smooth.

u Rub a thin coat of lotion, cream, or 

petroleum jelly on the tops and bottoms 

of your feet.

u Do not put lotion or cream between 

your toes because this might cause an 

infection. 

Put lotion on the tops and bottoms of 

your feet.

3
4 Smooth corns and calluses 

gently.

u Thick patches of skin called corns or 

calluses can grow on the feet. If you 

have corns or calluses, check with your 

foot doctor about the best way to care 

for them.

u If your doctor tells you to, use a pumice 

stone to smooth corns and calluses after 

bathing or showering. A pumice stone is 

a type of rock used to smooth the skin. 

Rub gently, only in one direction, to 

avoid tearing the skin.

u Do not cut corns and calluses.

u Do not use razor blades, corn plasters, 

or liquid corn and callus removers—

they can damage your skin and cause 

an infection. 

Gently rub 

calluses with a 

pumice stone.

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5

5 If you can see, reach, and feel 

your feet, trim your toenails 

regularly.

u Trim your toenails with nail clippers 

after you wash and dry your feet.

u Trim your toenails straight across and 

smooth the corners with an emery board 

or nail file. This prevents the nails from 

growing into the skin. Do not cut into 

the corners of the toenail.

u Have a foot doctor trim your toenails if:

w you cannot see or feel your feet

w you cannot reach your feet

w your toenails are thick or yellowed

w your nails curve and grow into the skin

Trim your toenails straight across and 

smooth the corners with a nail file.
6 Wear shoes and socks at all times.

u Wear shoes and socks at all times. Do not 

walk barefoot when indoors or outside. 

It is easy to step on something and hurt 

your feet. You may not feel any pain and 

not know that you hurt yourself.

u Make sure you wear socks, stockings, 

or nylons with your shoes to keep from 

getting blisters and sores.

u Choose clean, lightly padded socks that fit 

well. Socks that have no seams are best.

u Check inside your shoes before you 

put them on. Make sure the lining is 

smooth and that there are no objects 

in your shoes.

u Wear shoes that fit well and protect 

your feet.

Check the 

inside of 

your shoes 

before 

you put 

them on.

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7

7 Protect your feet from hot 

and cold.

u Wear shoes at the beach and on hot 

pavement. You may burn your feet and 

may not know it.

u Put sunscreen on the top of your feet to 

prevent sunburn.

u Keep your feet away from heaters and 

open fires.

u Do not put hot water bottles or heating 

pads on your feet.

u Wear socks at night if your feet get cold.

u Wear lined boots in the winter to keep 

your feet warm.

Protect 

your feet 

when 

walking 

on hot 

surfaces.
8 Keep the blood flowing to 

your feet.

u Put your feet up when you are sitting.

u Wiggle your toes for 5 minutes, 2 or 3 

times a day. Move your ankles up and 

down and in and out to help blood flow 

in your feet and legs.

u Do not cross your legs for long periods 

of time.

u Do not wear tight socks, elastic, or 

rubber bands around your legs.

u Do not smoke. Smoking can lower 

the amount of blood flow to your feet. 

Ask for help to stop smoking. Call 

1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669).

Put your feet up when you are sitting.

8
9 Be more active.

u Being active improves blood flow to the 

feet. Ask your health care team for safe 

ways to be more active each day. Move 

more by walking, dancing, swimming, 

or going bike riding.

u If you are not very active, start slowly.

u Find safe places to be active.

u Wear athletic shoes that give support 

and are made for your activity. 

Bike riding is good exercise. 

9
10

10 Be sure to ask your health care 

team to: 

u check your feet at every visit

u check the sense of feeling and pulses in 

your feet at least once a year

u show you how to care for your feet

u refer you to a foot doctor if needed

u tell you if special shoes would help 

protect your feet 

Ask your 

doctor to 

check your 

feet at 

every visit.

REMINDER Cut out the foot care tip sheet in this 

booklet and put it on your bathroom 

or bedroom wall or your nightstand to 

remind you to take care of your feet.

Complete the “To Do List” at the back 

of this booklet.
11 Take care of your diabetes.

u Work with your health care team to 

make a plan to manage your diabetes.

u Ask your health care team to help you set 

and reach goals for managing your blood 

sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

u Ask your team to help you choose safe 

ways to be more active each day and 

choose healthy foods to eat.

Tips for Choosing the Right Footwear

Wearing the right type of shoes is important for 

keeping your feet healthy. Walking shoes and athletic 

shoes are good for daily wear. They support your feet 

and allow them to “breathe.” 

u Never wear vinyl or plastic shoes, because they do 

not stretch or “breathe.”

u When buying shoes, make sure they feel good and 

have enough room for your toes.

u Do not wear shoes with pointed toes 

or high heels often. They put too 

much pressure on your toes.

u Buy shoes at the end of the day 

when your feet are the 

largest so that you can 

find the best fit.

11
12

Medicare and other insurance 

for special footwear:

You may need special shoes or shoe inserts to support 

your feet. Medicare Part B insurance may cover some 

of the cost of special shoes or inserts. Ask your doctor 

if your insurance plan will pay for: 

u Depth shoes or inserts. Depth shoes look like 

walking shoes, but have more room in them. The 

extra room is for different shaped feet and toes, or 

for inserts made to fit your feet. 

u Custom molded shoes with inserts.

Ask your doctor or foot doctor how you can get this 

special footwear.

Things to remember:

u Set a time every day to check your feet.

u Wear socks and shoes at all times.

u Write down the date of your next visit to the 

doctor. Go to all of your appointments and ask 

any questions that you have. 

u Set a date for getting the things you need to take 

care of your feet: nail clippers, pumice stone, emery 

board, skin lotion, talcum powder, plastic mirror, 

socks, walking shoes, and slippers. 

u Stop smoking. 

u Manage your diabetes so you can prevent foot 

problems.
To learn more:

National Diabetes Education Program

1-800-860-8747

www.ndep.nih.gov

American Association of Diabetes Educators

1-800-338-3633 

www.diabeteseducator.org

American Diabetes Association

1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)

www.diabetes.org

American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) 

301-581-9200

www.apma.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) 

www.cdc.gov/diabetes 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

http://www.medicare.gov/coverage/therapeutic-shoesor-inserts.html

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and 

Kidney Diseases

1-800-860-8747

www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov 
To Do List: 

Make plans now to take care of your feet for a lifetime. 

Check each item when completed.

Use the foot care tips on the other side of this page. 

Put this list where I will see it every day.

Get a pair of nail clippers, an emery board, and 

pumice stone if my doctor tells me to.

Buy soft, lightly padded, seamless socks.

Buy a pair of shoes that fit well and protect my feet.

Place slippers beside my bed to wear when I get 

out of bed.

Get a mirror to help me see the bottoms of my feet.

Ask for help from a family member or caregiver 

if I cannot see my feet.
Keep my next doctor’s visit.

Ask my doctor if my insurance will cover the cost 

of special shoes or inserts. 

Ask my health care team about diabetes services 

and supplies that may be covered by Medicare or 

other insurance plans.

Ask my doctor or nurse to look at my feet at 

every visit.

Talk with my health care team about safe ways 

I can be more active each day.

Stop smoking. Call 1-800-784-8669 to get help 

with quitting.

Work to manage my diabetes to prevent 

foot problems.

National Diabetes Education Program

1-800-860-8747 • www.ndep.nih.gov
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Foot Care Tips: 

Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime.

1 Check your feet every day. 

u Look at your bare feet every day for cuts, blisters, 

red spots, and swelling.

u Use a mirror to check the bottoms of your feet or 

ask a family member for help if you have trouble 

seeing.

Wash your feet every day. 

u Wash your feet in warm, not hot, water every day.

u Dry your feet. Be sure to dry between the toes.

Keep the skin soft and smooth.

u Rub a thin coat of lotion over the tops and 

bottoms of your feet, but not between your toes.

Smooth corns and calluses gently.

u If your doctor tells you to, use a pumice stone to 

gently smooth corns and calluses.

u Do not use over-the-counter products or sharp 

objects on corns and calluses.

If you can see, reach, and feel your feet, trim 

your toenails regularly. If you cannot, ask a 

foot doctor (podiatrist) to trim them for you.

u Trim your toenails straight across and smooth 

the corners with an emery board or nail file.

Wear shoes and socks at all times.

u Never walk barefoot.

u Wear shoes that fit well and protect your feet. 

u Feel inside your shoes before putting them on to 

make sure the lining is smooth and that there are 

no objects inside.
7 Protect your feet from hot and cold.

u Wear shoes at the beach and on hot pavement.

u Wear socks at night if your feet get cold.

u Do not test bath water with your feet.

u Do not use hot water bottles or heating pads on 

your feet.

Keep the blood flowing to your feet.

u Put your feet up when sitting.

u Wiggle your toes and move your ankles up and 

down for 5 minutes, two or three times a day.

u Do not cross your legs for long periods of time.

u Do not smoke. Call 1-800-QUITNOW 

(1-800-784-8669).

Be active every day.

u Talk to your health care team about safe ways you 

can be more active.

Check with your health care team.

u Have your doctor or nurse check your bare feet and 

tell you if you have foot problems or may get foot 

problems in the future. Remember that you may 

not feel the pain of an injury.

u Call your health care team right away if you find a 

cut, sore, blister, or bruise on your foot that does 

not begin to heal after a few days.

u Follow your health care team’s advice about foot care.

Take care of your diabetes.

u Ask your health care team to help you set and 

reach goals for managing your blood sugar, blood 

pressure, and cholesterol.

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National Diabetes Education Program

1-800-860-8747 • www.ndep.nih.gov
NIH Publication No. 16-4285

NDEP-4 

September 2014

The NIDDK prints on recycled paper with bio-based ink.

National Diabetes Education Program

1-800-860-8747

TTY: 1-866-569-1162

www.ndep.nih.gov

The NIDDK would like to thank: 

Dennis R. Frisch, DPM, 

the American Podiatric Medical Association. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services’ National Diabetes Education Program 

(NDEP) is jointly sponsored by the National 

Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the 

support of more than

200 partner organizations.

This information is not copyrighted. The NIDDK 

encourages people to share this content freely.

By joining a research study, people can help improve 

their health and the health of others. See www.

niddk.nih.gov/health-information/clinical-trials and 

www.cdc.gov/diabetes/projects/index.htm.