The 5-Minute Daily Foot Check Every Diabetic Should Do

If you have diabetes, the single most useful thing you can do for your feet takes five minutes a day. Not a special device, not an app — just your eyes, your hands, and good lighting. Done daily, it catches the early warning signs that turn into the serious problems people end up in hospital for.

Why daily, not weekly

Diabetes can dull sensation in the feet. That means a blister, a small cut, or a pressure spot from a tight shoe can be there for days without you feeling it. Daily checking is what bridges the gap your nerves used to bridge for you.

The 5-minute routine

1. 1Sit in a chair with good light. Take off both socks.
2. 2Look at the tops of your feet. Any redness, swelling, or new bumps?
3. 3Look between every toe. Slide a tissue or finger gently through — looking for cracks, peeling, or moisture.
4. 4Pick up each foot and look at the sole. Check for blisters, dry cracks, dark spots or punctures.
5. 5Run a hand over each foot. Note any warm spots compared to the other foot.
6. 6Check both heels for cracks or thick edges.
7. 7Make sure toenails look the same as yesterday — no new yellowing, lifting, or pain.

What's worth a call

• Any open sore, no matter how small
• A blister you don't remember getting
• Redness that spreads or feels warm
• A toe that looks a different colour than the others
• Numbness or tingling that's new
• Pain that wasn't there a day ago

Make it a habit, not a chore

Most people pick a time that's already part of the day — after the morning shower, or right before bed. Pair it with something you already do and you won't forget. The check is short, calm, and almost always boring. Boring is the goal.