Diabetic foot care
Diabetes can slowly damage the nerves and blood vessels of the feet, so a small cut or blister may go unnoticed and turn into a serious wound. At Medcare in Bongaigaon, Dr. Tamoghna Das, who has trained in diabetic foot management, checks feet for early nerve and blood-flow problems and helps you protect them. Most foot problems in diabetes can be prevented.
At a glance
- Who needs a check: everyone with diabetes, at least once a year, and at every visit if your feet are at risk
- What we check: feeling (nerves), pulses and blood flow, skin, nails, foot shape and footwear
- Tests at Medcare: monofilament and vibration testing for nerves, Doppler for blood flow
- Common causes of wounds: walking barefoot, tight shoes, hot water bottles, cutting corns at home
- Key message: look at your feet every day
Why feet are at risk in diabetes
- Nerve damage (neuropathy): feet lose feeling, so injuries are not felt. It can also cause burning, tingling or pins and needles, often worse at night.
- Poor blood flow: narrowed arteries mean wounds heal slowly.
- Dry, cracked skin: cracks let infection in.
- Changes in foot shape: pressure points form, leading to corns and calluses that can break down.
Warning signs
- Numbness, tingling or burning in the feet
- Cracks in the heels, corns or hard skin
- A blister, cut or sore that is slow to heal
- Change of colour: red, blue or very pale skin
- Swelling, warmth, or a change in foot shape
- Pain in the calves on walking that settles with rest
- Thick or ingrown nails, or a fungal infection between the toes
What happens at Medcare
- Foot history. Past wounds, pain, numbness, footwear and daily habits.
- Examination. Skin, nails, pressure areas, pulses and foot shape.
- Nerve check. Simple painless tests of feeling and vibration.
- Blood-flow check. Pulses and a handheld Doppler test of the foot arteries.
- Risk grade. You are told whether your feet are low, moderate or high risk, and how often they need checking.
- Plan. Daily foot care, footwear advice, sugar and BP control, and treatment for burning pain. For wounds, Dr. Das advises on dressing and infection, and explains if you need a surgeon or a hospital.
- Foot history. Past wounds, pain, numbness, footwear and daily habits.
- Examination. Skin, nails, pressure areas, pulses and foot shape.
- Nerve check. Simple painless tests of feeling and vibration.
- Blood-flow check. Pulses and a handheld Doppler test of the foot arteries.
- Risk grade. You are told whether your feet are low, moderate or high risk, and how often they need checking.
- Plan. Daily foot care, footwear advice, sugar and BP control, and treatment for burning pain. For wounds, Dr. Das advises on dressing and infection, and explains if you need a surgeon or a hospital.
Daily foot care at home
- Look at both feet every day, including between the toes and under the heel. Use a mirror or ask someone to help.
- Wash in lukewarm water, test the temperature with your elbow, and dry well between the toes.
- Use moisturiser on dry skin, but not between the toes.
- Cut nails straight across. Do not cut corns or use corn plasters.
- Never walk barefoot, at home, in the yard, at prayer places or in the paddy field.
- Wear soft, well-fitting closed footwear with cotton socks. Check inside shoes before wearing them.
- Do not use hot water bottles or heat pads on numb feet.
- Stop smoking, which reduces blood flow.
When to see a doctor urgently
Come the same day, or go to a hospital emergency if the clinic is closed, if you have: a foot wound with redness spreading, swelling, pus or a bad smell; fever with a foot wound; skin turning black or blue; or a sudden hot, red, swollen foot even without a wound. Call 108 or 112 if you are drowsy, confused or very unwell.
FAQs
How often should my feet be checked?
Everyone with diabetes should have a full foot check at least once a year. If you have lost feeling, have poor blood flow, or have had a wound before, your feet need checking at every visit, often every 1 to 3 months. Daily self-checks at home are just as important.
My feet burn at night. What can help?
Burning, tingling and pins and needles are common signs of diabetic nerve damage. Better sugar control, vitamin B12 checks and specific medicines for nerve pain can help. Dr. Das will examine your feet, check for other causes and suggest treatment.
Can I use home remedies on a diabetic foot wound?
Please do not apply home remedies, powders, oils or heat to a wound. They can hide infection or burn numb skin. Keep the wound clean and covered, take weight off the foot and get it seen quickly. Early care is the surest way to avoid serious problems.
What kind of footwear is best?
Closed, soft, roomy shoes with a firm sole and no rough seams inside. Avoid tight shoes, high heels and thin rubber slippers. People with high-risk feet may need special footwear or insoles. Buy shoes in the evening, when feet are slightly swollen.
Can foot nerve damage be reversed?
Nerve damage usually cannot be fully undone, but good sugar control can slow it and sometimes ease symptoms. The bigger aim is protection: daily checks, proper footwear and early treatment of small problems prevent most serious wounds.
Sources
- International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) Guidelines
- American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care: Retinopathy, Neuropathy and Foot Care
Related care
Medically reviewed by Dr. Tamoghna Das, MBBS, MD (Medicine) · Assam Council of Medical Registration No. 20276 · Last reviewed 3 October 2026
Book a visit with Dr. Tamoghna Das
Call 60031 21297 or send a WhatsApp message. We confirm your time within 30 to 60 minutes during clinic hours.