What are 3 things you should never do to the feet of someone with diabetes?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 09, 2026
Avoid soaking your feet, as this can lead to dry skin. Dry your feet gently, especially between the toes. Moisturize your feet and ankles with lotion or petroleum jelly. Do not put oils or creams between your toes — the extra moisture can lead to infection.
What should you not do to a diabetic feet?
Don't soak your feet. Dry your feet completely and apply lotion to the top and bottom—but not between your toes, which could lead to infection. Never go barefoot. Always wear shoes and socks or slippers, even inside, to avoid injury.
Why can't diabetics cut their feet?
Diabetic neuropathy.
If you have damaged nerves in your legs and feet, you might not feel heat, cold, or pain there. This lack of feeling is called "sensory diabetic neuropathy." If you do not feel a cut or sore on your foot because of neuropathy, the cut could get worse and become infected.
What damage can diabetes do to your feet?
Foot problems are common in people with diabetes. They can happen over time when high blood sugar damages the nerves and blood vessels in the feet. The nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, can cause numbness, tingling, pain, or a loss of feeling in your feet.
Why do you have to be careful with diabetic patients and their feet?
Diabetic foot care is essential as diabetes can be dangerous to your feet—even a small cut can produce serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection.
23 related questions foundWhy can't diabetics cut their toenails?
That's because diabetes often causes poor circulation that leads to numbness in the feet. Numbness makes it less likely that you'll notice cuts, scrapes, and blisters on your feet, and poor circulation means those wounds are less likely to heal properly.
What does diabetes do to your eyes?
Diabetic retinopathy is caused when high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the retina (a light-sensitive layer of cells in the back of the eye). Damaged blood vessels can swell and leak, causing blurry vision or stopping blood flow.
What are signs of diabetic feet?
Warning Signs of Diabetic Foot Problems
- Increase swelling of legs or feet.
- Change of skin color.
- Burning or tingling sensation.
- Lack of feeling in the feet.
- Numbness in the toes.
- Ingrown toenails.
- Slow to heal sores.
- Cracks between toes.
What vitamins should diabetics avoid?
Talk to your health care provider before you start taking chromium, vitamin E, St. John's wort, or niacin.
...
John's wort, or niacin.
- Chromium. A chromium deficiency may lead to high blood sugar levels. ...
- Vitamin E & St. John's Wort. ...
- Niacin.
How can diabetics improve circulation in their feet?
Keep the blood flowing to your feet
- Put your feet up when you are sitting.
- Wiggle your toes for a few minutes throughout the day. Move your ankles up and down and in and out to help blood flow in your feet and legs.
- Do not wear tight socks or elastic stockings. ...
- Be more physically active. ...
- Stop smoking.
Can diabetic foot be cured?
Background. Diabetic foot infections are a frequent clinical problem. About 50% of patients with diabetic foot infections who have foot amputations die within five years. Properly managed most can be cured, but many patients needlessly undergo amputations because of improper diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
What are 10 warning signs of diabetes?
Early signs and symptoms of diabetes
- Frequent urination. When your blood sugar is high, your kidneys expel the excess blood sugar, causing you to urinate more frequently. ...
- Increased thirst. ...
- Fatigue. ...
- Blurred vision. ...
- Increased hunger. ...
- Unexplained weight loss. ...
- Slow healing cuts and wounds. ...
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.
What kind of foot problems are there?
Common foot problems
- Athlete's foot. Itchy, stinging, and burning feet and toes may be signs of athlete's foot. ...
- Blisters. Raised pockets of fluid on your feet are known as blisters. ...
- Bunions. A bump on the side of your big toe may be a bunion. ...
- Corns. ...
- Plantar fasciitis. ...
- Heel spur. ...
- Claw toe. ...
- Mallet or hammer toe.
What drink lowers blood sugar?
When participants in the study drank one cup of chamomile tea after meals three times per day for six weeks, they showed a reduction in blood sugar levels, insulin, and insulin resistance.
What is the best vitamin for diabetics?
What are the best vitamins for people with diabetes?
- Thiamin (b1) Those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are more likely to have lower blood levels of thiamin and usually suffer a higher risk of thiamin deficiency than people who don't have diabetes. ...
- Vitamin B12. ...
- Vitamin D. ...
- Magnesium. ...
- Vitamin E. ...
- Vitamin C.
Is Centrum good for diabetic patients?
According to the American Diabetes Association's Standards of Medical Care, people with diabetes get no extra benefits from taking a multivitamin, compared to people without diabetes. Any supplement or vitamin that is recommended for the general public is also recommended for people with diabetes.
Do all diabetics go blind?
Although many people with diabetes develop impaired vision, fewer than 5% suffer severe vision loss.
Does diabetes make you tired?
Fatigue is a common symptom of diabetes and can result from high blood sugar levels and other symptoms and complications of the condition.
Can diabetes cause back pain?
Diabetes Is a Risk Factor for Lower Back Pain
Individuals with diabetes are 19% to 35% more likely to have lower back pain and 24% to 34% more likely to have neck pain than the general population.
What is the best soap for diabetics?
To help you find the relief you need, we recommend using a hydrating cleanser like CeraVe Diabetics' Dry Skin Relief Cleansing Wash, which is formulated with ceramides to help restore the skin's barrier, plus moisture-attracting urea and antioxidant-rich bilberry.
What do diabetic legs look like?
High blood sugar from diabetes damages small blood vessels and causes these brownish patches. These roundish, rough spots often appear on your shins. Dermopathy is usually harmless and should fade away in 18 months or so. But it also can last a long time.
What kind of socks should diabetics wear?
People living with diabetes need to be gentle with their feet. Look for socks made with soft fibers like bamboo or wool. These yarns won't rub against the skin, and they can help prevent friction that causes blisters.
What are Covid toes?
What Are the Symptoms of COVID Toes? The skin on one or more of your toes or fingers may swell up and look bright red, then gradually turn purple. Skin of color can look swollen and purple, and brownish-purple spots may appear. ADVERTISEMENT.
What are common foot problems in older adults?
Age-related fat pad atrophy, bony deformities such as hallux valgus (bunions) and hammer, claw and mallet toe, Morton's neuroma, toe nail disorders and arthritis are common foot problems in older people.
What is foot hygiene?
Foot hygiene may involve keeping your feet clean, treating any problems with your feet, wearing shoes that protect and support your feet, and caring for your feet and toenails.