To prevent diabetic complications, it’s important to take proactive rather than reactive. That means visiting your doctor regularly, exercising, and eating a healthy and balanced diet. It also means that you have to pay special attention to your feet by inspecting them regularly. Properly inspecting your feet should include the following:

• Searching for puncture wounds, bruises, redness, blisters, ulcers, cuts, and/or scratches
• Examine the bottoms of your feet and toes
• Thoroughly wash your feet with soap and warm water
• Use lotion to keep feet soft
• Trim toenails regularly
• Smooth out corns and calluses

Wearing properly fitting shoes is crucial in keeping your feet healthy—a poor fitting shoe can lead to foot problems like corns, calluses or hammer toe. Walking shoes and athletic shoes are good for daily wear because they support your feet and allow them to “breathe.” Try to avoid wearing shoes that are made of vinyl or plastic, and shoes with pointed toes or high heels.

In addition to choosing proper footwear, you need to also consider the socks you are wearing. Make sure your socks are clean, padded and dry. Socks should be worn at all times—even if you’re wearing shoes—to protect against blisters and sores. People with diabetes should also avoid walking barefoot at all times because fungal and bacterial infections can spread very easily.

Properly managing your diabetes and protecting your feet can help avoid complications caused by infections. When infections go untreated and aren’t treated properly, you risk losing your foot altogether. When infections like gangrene begin to kill dead tissues, the only treatment available is surgery to remove the affected appendage.

Diabetes is a serious condition that—if improperly managed—can become potentially life-threatening.