Why a daily check matters when you have diabetes

Over time, diabetes can damage the nerves in the feet and slow the blood flow to them. When feeling is reduced, a blister, a cut or a pebble in your shoe may not hurt at all. A daily diabetic foot check lets your eyes and hands find what your nerves might miss.

Many diabetic foot ulcers start as something small: a rubbed spot, a crack in dry skin, a callus that keeps building. Found early, it can be shown to a clinician while it is still small. This matters most if you have numbness or a past neuropathic foot ulcer.

Set up so the check takes two minutes

Attach the check to something you already do every day, such as bathing or getting ready for bed.

  • Sit in a sturdy chair with good light, and wear your glasses if you use them.
  • Keep a long-handled mirror nearby for the soles. A mirror laid on the floor also works.
  • If you cannot see or reach your feet, ask a family member or caregiver to look for you, and show them the list below.

What to look at, in order

Check both feet the same way every day so you do not skip a spot.

  1. The tops of the feet and the ankles.
  2. The soles, including the ball of the foot and the heel.
  3. Between every toe, gently spreading the toes apart.
  4. Around and under the toenails.
  5. The inside of your socks and shoes.

You are looking for anything new or different from yesterday:

  • Blisters, cuts, scratches, cracks or peeling skin
  • Redness, dark or purple areas, or other color changes
  • Swelling, or one foot that looks larger than the other
  • A spot that feels warmer than the same spot on the other foot (use the back of your hand)
  • Calluses or corns, especially one with a dark spot or dampness under it
  • Nails that are thick, ingrown or red at the edges
  • Drainage, a stain on your sock, or a new smell

Before you put shoes on, feel inside each one for pebbles, rough seams or a worn lining. Our guide to choosing shoes with a diabetic foot wound covers fit.

If you already have a wound, dressing or offloading device

Do not remove a dressing, cast or boot to look underneath unless the treating clinician told you to. Check what you can see: the skin around the dressing, your toes, and the other foot, which is now doing more of the work.

Look for drainage coming through, a new smell, swelling, and rubbing where the edges and straps of an offloading device sit.

Everyday habits that protect your feet

Most people with diabetes are taught these habits. Your own clinician’s instructions come first.

  • Wash your feet in lukewarm water. Test the temperature with your elbow or a thermometer, not your foot.
  • Dry well, especially between the toes.
  • Wear shoes or firm-soled slippers, indoors too. Avoid going barefoot.
  • Keep heating pads and hot water bottles away from feet that have reduced feeling.
  • Do not cut corns or calluses yourself. Ask who should trim your nails if you cannot do it safely.

What to report and when to call

Call the treating clinician the same day, without waiting for your next visit, if you find:

  • Any break in the skin, blister or sore
  • New redness, warmth or swelling
  • Drainage, pus or odor
  • Skin that has turned black, blue or very pale
  • New pain, or new numbness or tingling

Our list of diabetic foot ulcer warning signs explains these changes. When you call, say that you have diabetes, what you found, where it is and when you first saw it.

Call 911 for an emergency, such as a foot that suddenly turns cold and pale or blue, bleeding that will not stop with firm pressure, or fever with confusion or trouble breathing.

How Gateway fits in

Gateway arranges visits with partner clinicians in Greater St. Louis and the Metro East. The treating clinician makes every decision about assessment and treatment.

We can help with diabetic foot care coordination when a wound is present, and with diabetes care at home for the blood sugar side of healing. To ask about a visit, request care or call 314-325-0126.

Common questions

How can I check my soles if I cannot bend that far?

Try a long-handled mirror, or lay a mirror on the floor and hold your foot over it while seated. Some people take a phone photo of each sole and look at the picture. If your eyesight makes it hard to judge color or small cuts, ask a family member or aide to do the looking.

I found a callus that does not hurt. Do I need to mention it?

Yes, mention it to your clinician. A callus forms where the foot takes repeated pressure, and with reduced feeling you may not notice what is happening under it. Call sooner if it has a dark or red spot, feels soft or damp, or the skin around it is warm. Do not trim it or use store-bought corn removers on your own.

Should I put lotion on my feet?

Dry skin cracks more easily, so many people with diabetes are advised to use a plain moisturizer on the tops and bottoms of the feet. The usual advice is to keep it out from between the toes, where extra moisture can break down the skin. Near a wound or dressing, ask the treating clinician what to use first.

Do I still need foot exams if I check my own feet every day?

Yes. A clinician’s foot exam tests things you cannot check at home, such as feeling, pulses and the shape of the foot. How often you need one depends on your risk, so ask your primary care or diabetes clinician. Your daily check covers the days in between.

Related pages

General information to help you talk with your own clinician. It is not medical advice, and the treating clinician makes every clinical decision. For a medical emergency, call 911.

Updated October 2026