Published: 15 June, 2026 Your feet carry you thousands of steps each day. If you live with diabetes, they may need a little extra attention to stay healthy. Taking a few minutes each day to check and care for your feet can help reduce the risk of complications such as infections, ulcers, and, in more serious cases, amputations. How diabetes affects your feet Over time, blood glucose levels outside your target range can damage nerves and blood vessels in your feet. Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) can cause loss of feeling, so you may not notice an injury before it becomes serious. Blood vessel damage (peripheral vascular disease) reduces blood flow to your legs and feet. Poor circulation slows healing, increases your risk of infection, and raises the likelihood of ulcers and amputations. How healthy are your feet? The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) Foot Forward program offers useful information on looking after your feet, including how-to guides and short videos. Take the quick two-minute quiz to learn about your current foot health and risk of foot problems. It also includes an Australia-wide location guide to foot services if you need more support. Four daily steps to reduce your foot risk With just a few minutes of care each day, you can help keep your feet healthy. The Foot Forward program’s foot care routine focuses four easy steps. 1. Check your feet daily At the same time each day, check your feet for: injuries, such as cuts, bruises, ulcers, or new calluses temperature changes (hot or cold) changes in colour or feeling, which can include numbness, tingling or pain injuries or changes between your toes. 2. Wash your feet Use soap and warm water to wash your feet. Dry your feet well, especially between your toes. 3. Care for your feet Moisturise your feet, except between your toes or on broken skin. Trim your toenails (not too short or too long). Check for corns, callouses and pressure points. 4. Wear protective footwear Choose protective shoes and socks that fit the shape of your foot. Check inside your shoes before putting them on for foreign objects or rough material. Wear clean socks to protect your feet from rubbing and to help absorb sweat. When to seek help If you have difficulty with any of the steps above, ask a family member, carer, or your healthcare team for support. When you’re living with diabetes, small injuries can become serious quickly. Seek medical attention immediately if you notice: ulcers or wounds that won’t heal swelling, heat, or skin colour changes (signs of infection) pus or a bad smell coming from a wound bruising blisters or cuts infected ingrown nails pain. See your healthcare team within a week for other issues, such as calluses, cracked skin, or changes to your foot shape or nails. Have regular diabetes foot checks In addition to checking your feet daily, having regular diabetes foot checks with your doctor or healthcare professional can help find foot problems early when they are easier to treat. How often you have your feet checked will depend on your foot risk. Your foot risk is how likely you are to have a diabetes-related foot problem, such as an ulcer. Your GP can check your feet or refer you to a podiatrist (footcare specialist) to have the check. In summary Looking after your feet is an important part of living well with diabetes. Simply daily habits such as checking, and caring for your feet, wearing the correct footwear and regular foot checks with your doctor can you’re your feet healthy and reduce the risk of foot problems.
