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Diabetic Foot Care: The Daily 2-Minute Habit That Prevents Ulcers and Amputations
India carries one of the world's largest burdens of diabetic foot ulcers — and the majority begin with something trivial: a shoe bite, a cracked heel, a nail cut too deep. Because diabetes can silently reduce sensation in the feet, small injuries go unnoticed until they become serious. The protection is simple, free, and takes two minutes a day. A practical guide by Dr. Manuj Sondhi, Consultant Physician & Diabetologist, Greater Noida.
⚠ See a doctor within 24 hours — do not "wait and watch" — if you have diabetes and notice: any wound, blister or cut that is not clearly healing · redness, warmth, or swelling of any part of the foot · pus or discharge · a foot that suddenly becomes painful, pale, or cold · black or dark discolouration of skin or a toe · fever along with any foot wound. Foot infections in diabetes can worsen in days, not weeks.
Quick answer: Check your feet — tops, soles, and between the toes — every single day; wash and dry them carefully (especially between toes); moisturise dry skin but not between toes; never walk barefoot, even at home; wear well-fitting footwear with socks; cut nails straight across; and get any wound, colour change, or new numbness reviewed by a doctor promptly. An annual foot examination by your doctor completes the protection.
Why diabetic feet need special care
Two silent processes put feet at risk. Nerve damage (neuropathy) reduces the ability to feel pain, heat, and pressure — so a pebble in the shoe or a burn from hot water can go completely unnoticed (read more: diabetic neuropathy). Reduced blood supply slows healing, so small wounds close slowly and infect easily. High blood sugar further weakens the body's infection defence. None of this means ulcers are inevitable — it means feet need the daily attention this page describes, and it means good sugar control remains the foundation.
The daily 2-minute foot check
Every day — ideally after your bath or before bed — look at: the top of each foot, the sole (use a mirror on the floor or ask a family member), between all toes, and around the nails. You are looking for cuts, blisters, cracks, redness, swelling, colour change, corns, or anything new. People with reduced vision should ask a family member to do the check — this is one of the most valuable two minutes a family can give.
Do's and don'ts that actually prevent ulcers
✔ Do: wash feet daily with lukewarm water (test the temperature with your hand or elbow first — never with your foot) · dry thoroughly, especially between toes · moisturise dry heels and soles · cut nails straight across, not curved into corners · wear clean cotton socks and change them daily · check inside shoes for stones or rough seams before wearing · break new shoes in gradually, an hour or two at a time · buy footwear in the evening when feet are slightly larger.
✘ Don't: walk barefoot — indoors or outdoors, including at home and in places of worship (carry clean socks) · use hot water bags or heaters directly on feet · cut or shave corns and calluses yourself, or use corn caps and acid plasters · ignore athlete's foot (itching, peeling between toes — a common entry point for infection) · wear tight, pointed shoes or hard chappals with a strap between toes if you have neuropathy · self-bandage a wound for days without showing a doctor.
Footwear: the most Indian of problems
Much of India lives in open chappals and walks barefoot at home — both risky with neuropathy. Practical middle path: soft, well-cushioned covered footwear outdoors; clean, dedicated "home slippers" indoors; and for those with established neuropathy, deformity, or a past ulcer, properly fitted therapeutic/diabetic footwear is a worthwhile investment your doctor can guide you on. The right footwear is not a luxury — for a neuropathic foot it is medical equipment.
What happens at an annual diabetic foot examination
At Nirvana Clinic, the annual foot review includes inspection for deformities, skin and nail problems; testing of protective sensation (monofilament and tuning-fork testing); checking foot pulses for blood supply; footwear review; and a personal risk grade that decides how often your feet should be professionally checked. Higher-risk feet — previous ulcer, absent sensation, poor pulses — are examined more frequently and referred to specialised foot/vascular services when needed, at the right time rather than the last moment.
Had diabetes for years but never had a proper foot examination?
Book a diabetic foot check with Dr. Manuj Sondhi — MRCP (UK), Consultant Physician & Diabetologist, opposite Delta-1 Metro Station.
WhatsApp to Book
Call +91 88002 62767
Frequently asked questions
Why do diabetic foot wounds heal slowly?
Three reasons combine: reduced blood supply delivers less oxygen and nutrients to the wound; high blood sugar impairs the cells that fight infection and rebuild tissue; and reduced sensation means the wound keeps getting walked on. This is why even small wounds deserve early medical attention and why sugar control is part of wound treatment.
Is it safe to remove corns or calluses at home?
No — not with blades, scissors, corn caps, or acid-based plasters. In a foot with reduced sensation, these commonly create wounds that become ulcers. Corns and calluses in diabetes should be managed by a doctor or trained podiatry professional, and recurring calluses usually signal a footwear or pressure problem worth fixing.
Can I walk barefoot at home if my floors are clean?
If you have any degree of neuropathy, no — the risk is not dirt but unfelt injury: a dropped pin, a door edge, a hot floor in summer. Clean indoor slippers kept only for home use solve both the hygiene concern and the injury risk.
My feet burn and tingle at night. Is that a foot-care problem?
Burning, tingling, or numbness suggests diabetic neuropathy — which is both a symptom to treat and a warning that your feet have entered a higher-risk category needing daily checks. See our dedicated
neuropathy page and get a clinical assessment.
What footwear is best for diabetic feet?
Soft, covered, well-cushioned shoes with a wide toe box, no hard internal seams, and a firm sole; cotton socks without tight elastic. Avoid pointed shoes, hard flat chappals, and anything that leaves pressure marks. If you have neuropathy, deformity, or a healed ulcer, ask about custom or therapeutic diabetic footwear.
How often should a doctor examine my feet?
At least once a year for everyone with diabetes, even with no symptoms. If you have neuropathy, reduced pulses, deformity, or a previous ulcer, professional checks are advised more frequently — your doctor will set the interval based on your risk grade.
Can diabetic foot ulcers be prevented?
A large proportion of ulcers are preventable with the basics on this page: daily self-checks, never walking barefoot, correct footwear, prompt attention to small wounds, good sugar control, and regular professional foot examinations. Prevention is dramatically easier, cheaper and safer than treating an established ulcer.
Related reading at Nirvana Clinic GLP-1 Therapy in India — The Complete Guide →
Medically reviewed by Dr. Manuj Sondhi, MRCP (UK), MD, DNB — Consultant Physician & Diabetologist, Nirvana Clinic, Greater Noida.
Last updated: 8 July 2026
Medical disclaimer: This page is general education, not individual medical advice. Foot wounds, infections, and colour changes in diabetes can progress rapidly and require prompt in-person medical assessment — do not rely on home treatment or online guidance for an active wound. Never start, stop, or change prescription medicines on your own.