Daily Diabetic Foot Self-Inspection: A Step-by-Step Checklist for Patients and Caregivers
education
A practical daily foot check for people with diabetes: what to look for, where to look, and when to escalate to a podiatrist before a callus turns into an ulcer.
People with diabetic neuropathy can lose the ability to feel pain long before they lose the ability to walk. That's why the single most protective habit is a two-minute daily foot inspection — done in good light, before shoes go on and after they come off.
This guide turns the Diabetic Foot Manual's warnings into a repeatable routine you can run at home.
What you need
- A well-lit room and a chair
- A hand mirror (or a phone camera) to see the soles
- Clean, dry hands
- A moisturizer for after inspection (never between the toes)
The 8-step daily check
- Wash and dry both feet, paying attention between the toes.
- Look at the tops of the toes for redness, calluses, or skin that looks polished from friction.
- Check the tips of the toes — the danger zone for hammered and claw toes.
- Inspect the sides of the big toe and little toe for bunion pressure or blisters.
- Use the mirror on the sole, scanning the heel, arch, and ball of the foot for calluses or dark spots.
- Feel for temperature differences between the two feet — a warmer spot can signal inflammation.
- Look between every toe for macerated skin, cuts, or fungal changes.
- Moisturize the tops and soles, not between the toes.
When to call the podiatrist
- A new callus, or a callus that is getting thicker
- Any dark discoloration under a callus (this can hide a wound)
- Redness, warmth, or drainage anywhere on the foot
- A blister, crack, or opening — however small
Clinicians tracking these patients between visits can pair the home check with image-anchored monitoring in AI-powered wound imaging, and route escalations through their diabetic foot care workflow.