Taking care of your feet is particularly important if you have diabetes. This is because diabetes can:¹

Damage nerves to the foot (neuropathy)

Reduce blood circulation to the feet (peripheral artery disease)

If you have nerve damage, you might not be able to feel your feet properly and might not notice cuts and sores. If your feet don’t have enough blood circulation, these cuts and sores may heal more slowly.¹

Therefore, cuts and sores can develop into ulcers without you realising. Ulcers or other lesions on the feet pose danger for people with diabetes. It is important to avoid foot damage, especially for middle-aged and elderly people.

Nerves are responsible for communicating messages around your body, including feelings of touch and pain. If nerves in your feet get damaged, you may experience feelings of:

Pain

Burning

Numbness

Tingling

However, you can still have nerve damage without symptoms, so it’s important to pay attention to your feet.

If you have poor circulation to the feet, you may experience:

Pain or cramps in the backs of your legs when walking

Cold feet

Brittle toenails

Hair loss on your feet or legs

Pale blue coloured skin on your legs (if you have light skin)

All people with diabetes need to take special care of their feet. This includes the following:¹

Wash your feet daily and dry well. Moisturise dry skin, especially cracked heels.

Keep toenails trimmed.

Wear comfortable, well-fitting and protective shoes.

Have your feet checked by a healthcare professional at least once a year.

Check your feet regularly for signs of swelling, redness or heat (this could be a sign of infection).

Check your feet before and after exercise.

Promptly report any signs or symptoms that may indicate a problem.