If you have diabetes, looking after your feet is an important part of looking after your overall health.
Diabetes can affect the nerves and blood vessels in your feet. This may reduce sensation, affect circulation and make injuries harder to notice or slower to heal1. Regular foot checks, daily foot care and early treatment of problems can help reduce the risk of serious diabetes-related foot complications2.
Over time, blood glucose levels outside your recommended target range can affect both the nerves and blood vessels supplying the feet1. Two important complications are:
Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that can cause:
Reduced sensation means you may develop a blister, cut or pressure injury without immediately noticing it1.
Diabetes can also affect the blood vessels supplying your legs and feet.
Reduced circulation can make healing more difficult and increase the risk of problems such as infection and ulceration1.
Some people experience both reduced sensation and reduced circulation, which can increase their overall foot risk.
Check your feet regularly and pay attention to anything that looks or feels different. Changes can include:
The NDSS recommends that people with diabetes check their feet every day and seek medical advice early when they notice a change or problem2.
Important: Losing sensation in your feet does not necessarily mean your feet are healthy. In some cases, nerve damage means a problem can develop without causing significant pain1.
A diabetes foot check looks for factors that can increase your risk of developing a foot ulcer or other complication.
Australian clinical guidance recommends assessing people with diabetes for factors including previous foot ulcers or amputations, structural changes, ulceration, peripheral neuropathy and circulation3.
A podiatry diabetes foot assessment may include checking:
The results can help determine your foot-risk category and how frequently your feet should be reviewed2.
The appropriate frequency depends on your individual level of risk. Current NDSS guidance recommends approximately2:
| Foot risk | Suggested professional foot check |
|---|---|
| Very low risk | Yearly |
| Low risk | At least once a year |
| Moderate risk | Every 3–6 months |
| High risk | Every 1–3 months |
RACGP guidance similarly recommends annual examinations for low-risk feet, with more frequent screening as a person's level of foot risk increases3.
Your GP, podiatrist or diabetes healthcare team can recommend an appropriate schedule based on your individual circumstances.
A simple daily routine can help you notice potential problems earlier2.
Look at the tops of your feet, soles, heels, sides of the feet, toes and the spaces between your toes.
Look for wounds, blisters, bruising, cracks, colour changes, swelling or areas of irritation.
If you cannot easily see the soles of your feet, use a mirror or ask someone to help you.
Wash your feet using soap and warm water. Dry them carefully, particularly between your toes, where excess moisture can contribute to skin problems.
Moisturising can help manage dry or cracked skin. Avoid putting moisturiser between your toes or onto broken skin unless your healthcare professional has advised otherwise.
Trim your toenails carefully and avoid cutting them excessively short. If you have reduced sensation, poor circulation, thickened nails or difficulty safely reaching or seeing your feet, speak with a podiatrist about appropriate nail care.
Before putting shoes on, check inside them for stones, rough seams, damaged lining or other foreign objects. This is particularly important if you have reduced sensation and may not immediately feel something inside your shoe.
Choose protective footwear and socks that fit the shape of your feet appropriately. Poorly fitting shoes can create rubbing and pressure that may contribute to blisters, calluses or other injuries.
Foot health is part of your broader diabetes management. Work with your diabetes healthcare team to manage your blood glucose and other health factors according to the targets recommended for you.
A diabetes-related foot ulcer, often called a diabetic foot ulcer, is an area where the skin has broken down and developed into an open wound.
People with diabetes may have a greater risk of foot ulcers when factors such as peripheral neuropathy, reduced circulation, previous ulcers, structural changes or pressure on the foot are present3.
Because reduced sensation may make an injury difficult to feel, an ulcer can sometimes be more advanced than expected when it is first discovered.
A foot ulcer should be assessed promptly by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Diabetes-related foot ulcers may require care from several healthcare professionals, and Australian clinical guidance recommends multidisciplinary care for people with diabetes-related foot ulceration4.
If you have diabetes, don't ignore a new foot wound simply because it is small or doesn't hurt. You should seek urgent professional care for problems including:
You should also seek immediate medical attention for wounds that aren't healing, pus or an unpleasant smell from a wound, blisters, cuts, infected ingrown nails and other concerning changes2.
If you're unsure whether a foot problem needs treatment, getting it checked early is safer than waiting for it to become worse.
Podiatrists are health professionals who specialise in the prevention, assessment and treatment of conditions affecting the feet and lower limbs. Depending on your needs, a podiatrist may assist with:
Regular assessment can be particularly important if you have already experienced neuropathy, reduced circulation, a previous foot ulcer or another diabetes-related foot complication. Use our directory to find a podiatrist near you.
Yes. Diabetes-related nerve damage can sometimes cause burning, tingling, sensitivity or pain in the feet. However, neuropathy may also cause reduced sensation or numbness, meaning some foot injuries cause little or no pain. Foot pain can have many causes, so new or persistent symptoms should be assessed rather than assumed to be caused by diabetes.
Diabetes can reduce sensation in the feet, making injuries more difficult to notice. Checking your feet every day makes it more likely that cuts, blisters, pressure areas and other changes will be identified early.
It depends on your foot-risk level. People at very low or low risk generally require assessment at least annually, while moderate- and high-risk feet require more frequent review. Your podiatrist, GP or diabetes healthcare team can recommend a schedule for you.
A diabetes foot assessment generally looks at your skin, foot structure, circulation and sensation and checks for wounds, pressure areas and other risk factors. Your clinician may also ask about previous ulcers, amputations and other diabetes-related complications.
Yes. Peripheral neuropathy can reduce sensation, so a cut, blister, pressure injury or other problem may not initially be painful. That is one reason visual daily foot checks are important.
Numbness can occur with diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy, but there are also many other possible causes of numbness. If you develop persistent or unexplained numbness, tingling, burning or other sensation changes in your feet, speak with an appropriate healthcare professional.
A new foot wound in a person with diabetes deserves prompt professional assessment.
Foot problems associated with diabetes are often easier to manage when they are identified early. Daily self-checks combined with professional foot assessments can help identify changes in sensation, circulation, skin integrity, pressure and overall foot health.
Connect with podiatrists and diabetes healthcare professionals across Australia
Medical disclaimer: The information on this page is general in nature and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have diabetes and develop a wound, ulcer, infection or sudden change in the appearance or sensation of your foot, seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional promptly.
Last reviewed: August 2026 · Next review due: August 2027
This website content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.