Diabetic Foot Care

These instructions are for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia patients with diabetes to learn how to care for their feet.

Important information diabetic foot care:

Everyone with diabetes is at risk for foot problems. However, healthy foot-care habits can prevent infections and protect your feet.

Patient instructions to keep feet healthy:

• Keep your blood sugar in your target range. Good blood sugar control can prevent skin infections of the feet

• Check your feet and toenails every day for signs of problems like redness or cuts.

• Wash your feet daily with a mild soap and dry completely. After washing apply lotion. Good foot care can prevent foot problems such as infections, calluses and corns.

• Cut toenails to prevent ingrown toenails.

  • Cut nails straight across with a toe clipper.

  • File sharp edges with an emery board.

  • Avoid cutting into the corners, it can cause ingrown toenails.

• Use a pumice stone to reduce calluses.

• Check shoe size and wear proper-fitting shoes. Tight shoes can cause redness, sores or problems with blood flow.

• Replace shoes if they are causing calluses, blisters or pain.

• Replace worn-out shoes.

• Wear socks with shoes to reduce sweating and blisters.

• Avoid walking barefoot and be cautious of wearing shoes that are open, like sandals and flip flops. Unprotected feet increase the risk of a cut, burn or bug bite which can lead to infection.

Patient instructions about pedicures:

The American Diabetes Association does not recommend pedicures. They can cause an increased risk of infection for people with diabetes. It is important to be aware of the risks when deciding if pedicures are right for you.

Say NO to a pedicure if you have:

• An infection or an open cut. Bug bites, bruises, scratches, scabs or poison ivy increase the risk for bacterial or fungal infections.

• Poor blood sugar control. High blood sugars increase the risk of infection and poor healing.

• Neuropathy, or loss of feeling in the feet. It increases the chance of burns if the water is too hot. This can further injure the feet.

• Removed hair on your legs in the last two days. Shaving, using cream or wax can increase the chance of infection from bacteria entering your body through nicks or small cuts.

If you choose a pedicure:

Use good judgment and choose a nail salon carefully.

• Check out salons and ask about their cleaning practices. Ask to see the cleaning solutions. The solutions should say that they are EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) registered hospital disinfectants. Look for words like "hospital," "health care" or "medical."

• Inspect the foot tub. Ask if it is cleaned between each client with hospital-grade disinfectant.

• Inspect the tools. Stainless steel tools are more sanitary than wooden sticks.

• Do not be afraid to give the nail technician instructions.

  • Let them know you have diabetes.

  • Use a water temperature of 90-95 degrees.

  • Do not use razors.

  • Do not use lotions between the toes.

  • Be gentle.

Detecting foot problems early and alerting your healthcare provider can prevent more serious problems from developing. Contact your healthcare provider for:

• Pain, swelling or drainage around the toenail

• Dry, red, itchy rash on his feet

• Plantar warts

Call your CHOP diabetes team with questions, concerns or:

• If you have tingling in the feet that feels like pins and needles.

• Before using over-the-counter medicines for warts, corns or other foot problems.

Reviewed on March 1, 2023, by Tara L. Dea, MSN, CRNP