Foot health

Get to know your feet and check them every day. Wash your feet every day and dry all areas and in between the toes.

Use a mirror or ask a family member or carer to help if you have trouble reaching your feet. Check all areas of your feet including the soles and between the toes.

Get medical advice early if you notice any change or problem.

Find and register for upcoming FootSmart programs. 

FootSmart

This online program will give you the skills and knowledge to create a simple foot care routine that will help you avoid future foot problems.

Find an online program

See a health professional urgently even if a foot injury seems minor when there is:

• any sign of infection such as discharge, continuing heat or pain in your feet
• skin breakdown such as an ulcer, bleeding or deeply cracked skin
• new pain, swelling, change in temperature or redness.

Ask your diabetes health professional if you have very-low, low, moderate, or high-risk feet. Discuss foot checks and how to best look after your feet with them.

How healthy are your feet? Do you know your risk level? Take the Foot Forward foot health quiz to find out.

You have very low-risk feet if you:

• do not have any nerve damage in your feet
• have normal blood flow in or to your feet.

You have low-risk feet if you:

• have reduced blood flow and weak pulses in your feet
• have reduced sensation from nerve damage in your feet
• do not have any changes in the skin or shape of your feet.

You have moderate-risk feet if you:

• have any combination of changes in the shape, reduced blood flow and reduced sensation in your feet.

You have high-risk feet if you have any of the following:

• reduced blood flow and sensation together with a history of foot ulcer, previous lower limb amputation or kidney disease.

How healthy are your feet?

Learn the early signs of foot problems and how to look after your feet. Do our foot health quiz to find out if you have very-low, low, moderate, or high-risk feet.

Go to Foot Forward

To help you manage your diabetes and reduce your risk of diabetes-related complications, work with your diabetes health professional to set goals and fill in a personalised Information Prescription. Information Prescriptions help you understand and improve your health targets to manage your diabetes. Read more in our Information Prescriptions.

Diabetes and your feet—low risk Information Prescription

People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing serious foot problems. You can reduce this risk if you have regular foot checks with a health professional and take good care of your feet.

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Diabetes and your feet—moderate or high risk Information Prescription

People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing serious foot problems. You can reduce this risk if you have regular foot checks with a health professional and take good care of your feet.

Download

Podiatrists are foot health experts—trained to prevent, diagnose, treat feet and lower limbs.

Some health services and local councils offer subsidised podiatry services. Call your local hospital, council or community health centre to find out more.

A doctor can refer people with diabetes and serious foot problems (such as ulcers or neuropathy) to high-risk foot clinics.

Or call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700.

Rebates for podiatry services

Ask your general practitioner (GP) if you are eligible for a Medicare rebate to see a podiatrist. Medicare may provide a rebate on a podiatrists’ fees if your referring doctor has developed a GP Management Plan (GPMP) and a Team Care Arrangement (TCA) to help you manage your chronic condition.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) gold card holders are entitled to free podiatry services from private podiatrists.

Check whether you can get a rebate for podiatry services if you have private health insurance.

It is essential to do an annual cycle of care to find any health problems early. Without regular checks, diabetes can lead to health problems that can affect your whole body, including your kidneys, eyes, feet, nerves and heart. Ask your doctor for the timing of health checks and targets that meet your individual health needs.

Read more in our fact sheet or listen to our podcast series.

Your diabetes annual cycle of care fact sheet

The diabetes annual cycle of care is a checklist for reviewing your diabetes management and general health each year.

Download now

Annual cycle of care podcast series

Listen to our Annual cycle of care podcast series to learn more about what it is, why it’s important, and what you need to know about it.

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