By HealthyStepPodiatry.com Health Team
This page is general education. It does not replace a personal assessment.
Why daily foot checks matter
Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that often affects the feet and lower legs. With diabetes, high blood glucose and blood fats can damage nerves and the small blood vessels that nourish them. Loss of feeling can make a blister, cut, or pressure spot easy to miss.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains that unnoticed foot injuries can become sores or infections. Finding a change early gives you more time to respond. Read NIDDK's overview of peripheral neuropathy.
A simple daily routine
If you have diabetes, check your feet for problems every day. Look for injuries, blisters, or sores that reduced feeling might otherwise make easy to miss.
NIDDK recommends that people with diabetes check their feet every day and call or see a doctor right away if they notice a foot problem. See NIDDK's peripheral neuropathy guidance.
Know the warning signs
Loss of feeling is not the only sign. Burning, tingling, pain, balance changes, or a foot that feels different from the other foot can matter. Diabetes-related nerve damage can also raise the risk of balance problems and falls.
If you notice a new foot problem, call or see your doctor right away.
Foot checks are only one part of care
Daily checks do not identify every cause of numbness or pain. NIDDK notes that an evaluation can include a history, a physical exam, and tests that look for other causes of nerve damage. Low vitamin B12 is one example that may be considered in a broader evaluation.
For a plain-language explanation of B12 deficiency and nerve symptoms, see MedlinePlus on vitamin B12. A supplement is not a substitute for finding the cause of a new symptom.
Related reading
For another practical foot-comfort topic, read our guide to topical skin-safety questions. You can also review our overview of questions to ask about at-home foot devices.
The bottom line
Daily inspection is a low-cost habit that may help you notice a problem before it becomes harder to manage. Keep the routine simple and act promptly when you see a new change.