• Do not smoke. It decreases the blood supply to your feet.
   
• Never walk barefoot, neither indoors nor out.
   
• Examine your feet daily for redness, warmth, blisters, ulcers, scratches, cuts and nail problems from shoes or other sources. Look at the bottoms and between toes. Use a mirror or have someone else look for you.
   
• Call your doctor immediately if you experience any injury to your foot. Even a minor injury is an emergency for a patient with diabetes.
   
• Examine your shoes for foreign objects, protruding nails and rough spots inside before putting them on. Look and feel.
   
• Buy shoes late in the day. Never buy shoes that need "breaking in." They should be immediately comfortable. Request shoes with deep toe boxes and made of leather upper material. Do not wear new shoes more than two hours at a time. Rotate your shoes. Do not wear the same ones every day.
   
• Never wear sandals or thongs.
   
• Lubricate your entire foot if your skin is dry, but avoid putting cream between toes. Try Curel, Lubriderm, olive oil, vitamin E oil or lanolin. Avoid Vaseline, petroleum jelly, mineral oil or baby oil.
   
• Do not soak your feet. Skin can break down and won't heal well.
   
• Keep feet away from heat (heating pads, hot water pads, electric blankets, radiator, fireplaces). You can burn your feet without knowing it. Water temperature should be less than 92 degrees. Estimate with your elbow or bath thermometer (you can get one in any store that sells infant products).
   
• Don't use any tape or sticky products such as corn plasters on your feet. They can rip your skin.
   
• Do not file down, remove or shave calluses or corns yourself. These should be taken care of by your physician or someone your physician recommends.
   
• Do not use any chemicals or strong antiseptic solutions on your feet. Iodine, salicylic acid, corn/callus removers are dangerous.
   
• Do not trim your own toenails.
   
• Do not wear stockings or socks with tight elastic backs and do not use garters. Wear only white socks and do not wear any socks with holes. Always wear shoes with socks.
   
• In the winter, wear wool socks and protective footwear. Avoid getting feet wet in the snow and rain and avoid letting toes get cold.
   
•  If the circulation in your feet is impaired, tell your medical doctor so he/she can take this into account when prescribing medication for high blood pressure or heart disease.

Patient Brochure by Orthopaedic Centre Kortrijk, formerly at Belgian Orthoweb, by kind permission of AOFAS
(American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society), illustrations © 1997-2004 Dr. Jan Van Der Bauwhede