Diabetic? Here Is Why Your Feet Need a Yearly Check-Up

Diabetes attacks the feet on two fronts. It blunts the nerves, so small injuries stop hurting; and it narrows the blood vessels, so those injuries struggle to heal. The combination means a pebble in the shoe, a badly trimmed nail, or a barefoot walk on hot tiles can quietly become an ulcer.

What a diabetic foot check involves

• Monofilament and tuning-fork testing to map how much protective sensation remains
• Examination of pulses and skin to assess circulation
• Checking pressure points, calluses, deformities and nails
• Footwear review — the commonest culprit walks in on the patient’s own feet

The daily 60-second habit

Every evening, look at the soles of both feet (use a mirror or a family member’s help). You are looking for cuts, blisters, colour change, or swelling. Feel the bathwater with your elbow, never your toes. Moisturise dry heels, but not between the toes. And never, ever perform bathroom surgery on corns or ingrown nails.

The 2-week rule

Any wound that has not clearly improved within two weeks needs specialist review — earlier if there is spreading redness, discharge, or fever. Caught early, most diabetic foot ulcers heal completely with offloading and wound care. Caught late, the conversation changes. Put a yearly foot check in your calendar next to your HbA1c test; your feet will thank you for decades.