Best Foot Forward

Keep your feet healthy with these expert tips.

- Kaili Meyer

The average human walks an amazing 75,000 miles by age 50, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. So taking great care of those tootsies is vital, especially if you have diabetes.

Neuropathy caused by high blood glucose over time, poor circulation, and infection can lead to serious foot trouble. “Nerve damage causes a person to lose the ability to feel pain and protect themselves,” says David G. Armstrong, D.P.M., M.D., Ph.D., director of the Southwestern Academic Limb Salvage Alliance at the University of Southern California. “What you can’t feel can hurt you.”

About 70 percent of PWDs have some form of neuropathy, which can cause numbness and pain in feet. Blisters, sores, ulcers, and gangrene (dead tissue) are all complications that stem from poor foot care.

But there are warning signs, and a lot of problems are preventable, Armstrong says.

KEEP CLEAN

Wash your feet daily with mild soap and warm water—just avoid really hot water, which can damage skin. Use your elbow to check water temperature before diving in.

KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF

Really! Slip off your socks and give yourself a daily foot exam. Look for cuts, swelling, sores, warts, or changes that may have occurred. Can’t see the bottoms of your feet? Ask a family member or close friend for help, or use a mirror.

LACE UP