Number

5
in a

Prevent diabetes problems Series

of 7

Keep your feet and

skin healthy

U.S. Department
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH of Health and
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse Human Services
 Prevent diabetes problems:
Keep your feet and
skin healthy

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
Contents
What are diabetes problems?................................... 1
What should I do each day to stay
healthy with diabetes?............................................... 2
How can diabetes hurt my feet? .............................. 3
What can I do to take care of my feet? ................... 5
How can my doctor help me take care of
my feet? ...................................................................... 7
What are common diabetes foot problems? ........... 8
How can special shoes help my feet? .................... 11
How can diabetes hurt my skin? ............................ 12
What can I do to take care of my skin? ................. 13
For More Information ............................................ 14
More in the Series ................................................... 16
Acknowledgments ................................................... 17
What are diabetes problems?
Too much glucose (sugar) in the blood for a long
time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood
glucose (also called blood sugar) can damage many
parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels,
eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease
can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do
a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems.
This booklet is about feet and skin problems
caused by diabetes. You will learn the things
you can do each day and during each year to
stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems.

Bone

Blood
vessel

Nerve Skin

High blood glucose can cause feet and skin problems.

1
What should I do each day to stay
healthy with diabetes?
Follow the healthy eating plan that
you and your doctor or dietitian have
worked out.

Be active a total of 30 minutes most

days. Ask your doctor what activities
are best for you.

Take your diabetes medicines at the

same times each day.

Check your blood glucose every day.

Each time you check your blood
glucose, write the number in your
record book.

Check your feet every day for cuts,

blisters, sores, swelling, redness, or
sore toenails.

Brush and floss your teeth and gums

every day.

Don’t smoke.

2
How can diabetes hurt my feet?
High blood glucose from diabetes causes two
problems that can hurt your feet:
1. Nerve damage. One problem is damage to
nerves in your legs and feet. With damaged
nerves, you might not feel pain, heat, or cold in
your legs and feet. A sore or cut on your foot
may get worse because you do not know it is
there. This lack of feeling is caused by nerve
damage, also called diabetic neuropathy
(ne-ROP-uh-thee). It can lead to a large
sore or infection.
2. Poor blood flow. The second problem happens
when not enough blood flows to your legs and
feet. Poor blood flow makes it hard for a sore
or infection to heal. This problem is called
peripheral (puh-RIF-uh-rul) vascular disease.
Smoking when you have diabetes makes blood
flow problems much worse.
These two problems can work together to cause
a foot problem.

3
For example, you get a blister from shoes that do
not fit. You do not feel the pain from the blister
because you have nerve damage in your foot.
Next, the blister gets infected. If blood glucose is
high, the extra glucose feeds the germs. Germs
grow and the infection gets worse. Poor blood flow
to your legs and feet
can slow down
healing. Once in a
while a bad infection
never heals. The
infection might cause
gangrene (GANG-
green). If a person
has gangrene, the
skin and tissue
around the sore die.
The area becomes
black and smelly.
To keep gangrene
from spreading, a
doctor may have to
do surgery to cut off
a toe, foot, or part of
a leg. Cutting off a Make sure you wear shoes that
body part is called an fit well.
amputation (amp-yoo-TAY-shun).

4
What can I do to take care of my feet?
● Wash your feet in
warm water every
day. Make sure
the water is not too
hot by testing the
temperature with
your elbow. Do
not soak your feet.
Dry your feet well,
especially between
your toes.
● Look at your feet
every day to check
for cuts, sores, Look at your feet every day
blisters, redness, to check for problems.
calluses, or other problems. Checking every
day is even more important if you have nerve
damage or poor blood flow. If you cannot
bend over or pull your feet up to check them,
use a mirror. If you cannot see well, ask
someone else to check your feet.
● If your skin is dry, rub lotion on your feet after
you wash and dry them. Do not put lotion
between your toes.

5
 ● File corns and calluses gently with an emery
board or pumice stone. Do this
after your bath or shower.
● Cut your toenails once a
week or when needed.
Cut toenails when they are soft from washing.
Cut them to the shape of the toe and not too
short. File the edges with an emery board.
● Always wear shoes or slippers to protect your
feet from injuries.
● Always wear socks or stockings to avoid
blisters. Do not wear socks or knee-high
stockings that are too tight below your knee.
● Wear shoes that fit well. Shop for shoes at the
end of the day when your feet are bigger.
Break in shoes slowly. Wear them
1 to 2 hours each day for the first
1 to 2 weeks.
● Before putting your shoes
on, feel the insides to
make sure they have no
sharp edges or objects
that might injure your
feet.
Always wear slippers or
shoes to protect your feet.

6
How can my doctor help me take care
of my feet?
● Tell your doctor right away about any
foot problems.
● Ask your doctor to look at your feet at each
diabetes checkup. To make sure your doctor
checks your feet, take off your shoes and socks
before your doctor comes into the room.
● Ask your doctor to check how well the nerves
in your feet sense feeling.
● Ask your doctor
to check how well
blood is flowing to
your legs and feet.
● Ask your doctor to
show you the best
way to trim your
toenails. Ask what
lotion or cream to
use on your legs
and feet.
● If you cannot Take off your shoes and socks
cut your toenails so your doctor will check your
or you have a foot feet.
problem, ask your doctor to send you to a foot
doctor. A doctor who cares for feet is called a
podiatrist (puh-DY-uh-trist).

7
What are common diabetes
foot problems?
Anyone can have corns, blisters, and athlete’s foot.
If you have diabetes and your blood glucose stays
high, these foot problems can lead to infections.

Corns and calluses are

➔ thick layers of skin caused
➔

by too much rubbing or

pressure on the same spot.
Corns and calluses can
Corn and callus become infected.

Blisters can form if shoes

always rub the same spot.
Wearing shoes that do
not fit or wearing shoes
➔ without socks can cause
blisters. Blisters can
Blister become infected.

8
 Ingrown toenails happen
when an edge of the nail
grows into the skin. The
skin can get red and infec-
ted. Ingrown toenails can
➔
happen if you cut into the
Ingrown toenail
corners of your toenails
when you trim them. If toenail edges are sharp,
smooth them with an emery board. You can also
get an ingrown toenail if your shoes are too tight.

A bunion forms when your

big toe slants toward the
small toes and the place
between the bones near
➔ the base of your big toe
Bunion
grows big. This spot can
get red, sore, and infected. Bunions can form on
one or both feet. Pointed shoes may cause bunions.
Bunions often run in the family. Surgery can
remove bunions.

Plantar warts are caused

by a virus. The warts
➔

usually form on the

bottoms of the feet.
Plantar warts

9
 Hammertoes form when
a foot muscle gets weak.
The weakness may be from
➔ diabetic nerve damage.
The weakened muscle
Hammertoe makes the tendons in the
foot shorter and makes the toes curl under the feet.
You may get sores on the bottoms of your feet and
on the tops of your toes. The feet can change their
shape. Hammertoes can cause problems with
walking and finding shoes that fit well. Hammertoes
can run in the family. Wearing shoes that are too
short can also cause hammertoes.

Dry and cracked skin can

happen because the nerves
in your legs and feet do not
➔ get the message to keep
your skin soft and moist.
Dry skin can become
cracked and allow germs
to enter. If your blood
glucose is high, it feeds
the germs and makes the
Dry and infection worse.
cracked skin

10
 Athlete’s foot is a fungus
that causes redness and
cracking of the skin. It is
itchy. The cracks between
➔ the toes allow germs to get
under the skin. If your
blood glucose is high, it
feeds the germs and makes
Athlete’s foot
the infection worse. The
infection can spread to the toenails and make them
thick, yellow, and hard to cut.

All of these foot problems can be taken care of.

Tell your doctor about any foot problem as soon
as you see it.

How can special shoes help my feet?

Special shoes can be made to fit softly around your
sore feet or feet that have changed shape. These
special shoes help protect your feet. Medicare
and other health insurance programs may pay for
special shoes. Talk to your doctor about how and
where to get them.

11
How can diabetes hurt my skin?
Diabetes can hurt your skin in two ways:
1. If your blood glucose
is high, your body
loses fluid. With less
fluid in your body,
your skin can get
dry. Dry skin can be
itchy, causing you to
scratch and make it
sore. Also, dry skin
can crack. Cracks
allow germs to enter
and cause infection.
If your blood glucose
is high, it feeds Drinking fluids helps keep
your skin moist and healthy.
germs and makes
infections worse. Skin can get dry on your legs,
feet, elbows, and other places on your body.
2. Nerve damage can decrease the amount you
sweat. Sweating helps keep your skin soft and
moist. Decreased sweating in your feet and legs
can cause dry skin.

12
What can I do to take care of my skin?
● After you wash with a mild soap, make sure
you rinse and dry yourself well. Check places
where water can hide, such as under the arms,
under the breasts, between the legs, and
between the toes.
● Keep your skin moist by
using a lotion or cream
after you wash. Ask
your doctor to suggest
one.
● Drink lots of fluids,
such as water, to keep
your skin moist and
healthy.
● Wear all-cotton
underwear. Cotton
Keep your skin moist by
allows air to move washing with a mild soap
around your body and using lotion or cream
better. after you wash.
● Check your skin after you wash. Make sure
you have no dry, red, or sore spots that might
lead to an infection.
● Tell your doctor about any skin problems.

13
For More Information
Diabetes Teachers (nurses, dietitians, pharmacists,
and other health professionals)
To find a diabetes
teacher near you, call the
American Association of
Diabetes Educators toll-
free at 1–800–TEAMUP4
(1–800–832–6874), or
look on the Internet at
www.diabeteseducator.org
and click on “Find a
Diabetes Educator.”
Dietitians
To find a dietitian near you, call the American
Dietetic Association toll-free at 1–800–366–1655,
or look on the Internet at www.eatright.org and
click on “Find a Nutrition Professional.”
Government
The National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
is part of the National Institutes of Health. To
learn more about feet and skin problems, write
or call the National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information
Clearinghouse, 1 AMS Circle, Bethesda, MD
20892–3675, 1–877–226–4267 (toll-free); or see
www.niams.nih.gov on the Internet.
14
To get more information about taking care of
diabetes, contact
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
Phone: 1–800–860–8747 or (301) 654–3327
Fax: (301) 907–8906
Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
National Diabetes Education Program
1 Diabetes Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3600
Phone: 1–800–438–5383
Fax: (301) 907–8906
Internet: http://ndep.nih.gov
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone: 1–800–342–2383
Internet: www.diabetes.org
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
International
120 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005–4001
Phone: 1–800–533–2873
Internet: www.jdrf.org

15
More in the Series
The “Prevent Diabetes Problems” series has seven
booklets that can help you learn more about how to
prevent diabetes problems.

For free single copies of these booklets, write, call,

fax, or email the
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
Phone: 1–800–860–8747 or (301) 654–3327
Fax: (301) 907–8906
Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
These booklets are also available at www.diabetes.
niddk.nih.gov on the Internet.

16
Acknowledgments
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
thanks the people who helped review or field-test
this booklet.
For American For Diabetes Research For Grady Health System
Association of Diabetes and Training Centers Diabetes Clinic
Educators Albert Einstein School Atlanta, GA
Lynn Grieger, R.D., of Medicine Ernestine Baker, R.N.,
C.D.E. Norwalk Hospital F.N.P., C.D.E.
Arlington, VT Norwalk, CT Kris Ernst, R.N., C.D.E.
Celia Levesque, R.N., Jill Ely, R.N., C.D.E. Margaret Fowke,
C.D.E. Sam Engel, M.D. R.D., L.D.
Montgomery, AL Pam Howard, A.P.R.N., Kay Mann, R.N., C.D.E.
Teresa McMahon, C.D.E.
Pharm.D., C.D.E. For Indian Health
Seattle, WA Indiana University Service
Barbara Schreiner, R.N., School of Medicine Albuquerque, NM
M.N., C.D.E. Indianapolis, IN Ruth Bear, R.D., C.D.E.
Galveston, TX Madelyn Wheeler, M.S., Dorinda Bradley, R.N.,
R.D., F.A.D.A., C.D.E. C.D.E.
For American Diabetes Terry Fisher, R.N.
Association VA/JDF Diabetes Lorraine Valdez, R.N.,
Phyllis Barrier, M.S., Research Center C.D.E.
R.D., C.D.E. Vanderbilt School of
Alexandria, VA Medicine Red Lake, MN
Linda Haas, Ph.C., R.N., Nashville, TN Charmaine Branchaud,
C.D.E. Ok Chon Allison, B.S.N., R.N., C.D.E.
Seattle, WA M.S.N., R.N.C.S.,
A.N.P., C.D.E. For Medlantic Research
Kathleen Mahoney, Center
M.S.N., R.N., C.D.E. Barbara Backer, B.S.
James W. Pichert, Ph.D. Washington, DC
Drexel Hill, PA Resa Levetan, M.D.
Randi Kington, M.S., Alvin Powers, M.D.
R.N., C.S., C.D.E. Melissa E. Schweikhart For Texas Diabetes
Hartford, CT Michael B. Smith Council
Kathleen Wolffe, R.N. Texas Department of
For Centers for Medicare Health
& Medicaid Services Austin, TX
Baltimore, MD Luby Garza-Abijaoude,
Jan Drass, R.N., C.D.E. M.S., R.D., L.D.

17
National Diabetes
Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
Phone: 1–800–860–8747 or (301) 654–3327
Fax: (301) 907–8906
Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC)
is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is
part of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. Established in
1978, the clearinghouse provides information about diabetes
to people with diabetes and to their families, health care
professionals, and the public. NDIC answers inquiries,
develops and distributes publications, and works closely with
professional and patient organizations and Government
agencies to coordinate resources about diabetes.
Publications produced by the clearinghouse are carefully
reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts.

This publication is not copyrighted. The clearinghouse

encourages users of this booklet to duplicate and
distribute as many copies as desired.
This booklet is also available at www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Diabetes and

Digestive and Kidney Diseases
NIH Publication No. 03–4282
September 2003