You take off your socks and notice a small mark under your big toe. It feels fine. If you have diabetes, a daily foot check helps you spot a change like this even when it causes little or no pain. Diabetes can damage the nerves that carry sensation and can also affect circulation. The practical job at home is to look at both feet, recognize a change and know whom to call. A mirror, good light and a regular time of day make that job easier.
Set up somewhere you can see both feet
Choose a time when you already remove your socks, such as getting ready for bed. Sit in a stable chair and switch on a light that reaches your feet. Keep a mirror within reach. If bending or lifting a foot feels awkward, position the mirror so you can look down at the sole while sitting. If that still leaves areas hidden, ask someone you trust to help. A caregiver can tell you what they see and help you contact your care team if something has changed.
Start by looking at your socks as you take them off. A spot of blood or drainage can tell you where to look more closely. Take a moment to check the inside of each shoe as well. A pebble, a curled liner or a rough seam can press against the skin as you walk. If sensation is reduced, you may have worn the shoe for hours without feeling the problem. Diabetes Canada includes shoe and skin inspection in its foot care checklist.
Follow the same route around each foot
Pick a starting point so the check is easy to repeat. One simple sequence is the top of the foot, around the toes, underneath, then around the heel and the sides. Look at both feet even if you have a concern on only one side. Notice changes compared with your usual skin colour and appearance. You can compare the same place on the other foot, keeping in mind that your two feet may already look different.
Check the toes and nail edges
Look at the skin beside each nail for new swelling, broken skin or drainage. Then look between the toes. These folds can be hard to see from above, especially when toes overlap. If moving them is uncomfortable, ask for help seeing the area. Notice any raw skin, cracks or damp areas that persist. If you have difficulty reaching your nails or have had problems with them before, ask your care team how to manage them safely.
Look under the ball of the foot and around the heel
Use your mirror to see the pad under the big toe, the ball of the foot and the outer edge of the sole. A callus, blister or small break in the skin may be visible from this angle even if the top of the foot looks the same as yesterday. Move the mirror to see the sides and back of the heel. Pay attention to a crack that has opened or a spot on the heel that lines up with the back of a shoe.
One hypothetical example is a person who checks the tops of their feet every morning but only looks at the soles when they feel sore. They add a mirror to their evening routine and discover a small blister beneath the ball of one foot. The useful change was getting a view of a place they had been missing. They can describe where the blister is and contact their care team without waiting to see if it starts to hurt.
Act on a change while you can describe it clearly
Contact your health care team promptly if you find a new blister, cut, sore, drainage or other break in the skin. Tell them you have diabetes and describe where the change is, when you first saw it and whether there is new warmth, swelling or a change in colour. A suddenly warm, swollen foot deserves urgent assessment even if the skin is intact and you feel little pain. If redness is spreading quickly, you have a fever or you feel very unwell alongside a foot wound, seek urgent medical care.
If you notice thickened skin, a recurring pressure mark or a nail that is difficult to manage, ask your clinician how soon they want to see it. Avoid cutting away a corn or callus or using medicated corn removers on your own. Mention any past ulcer or loss of sensation, as that history may affect the advice you receive. If a care provider has already given you an individual foot plan, keep those instructions close at hand and use the contact route they recommend.
Make the check work on busy days
The routine is easier to keep when the supplies stay where you use them. Put the mirror beside the chair where you take off your socks. On a trip, decide ahead of time how you will check the soles, particularly if the room has poor lighting. If someone helps you, agree on a time that fits both schedules. Ask that person to say what they see in ordinary terms, such as a new split along the outside of the heel, so you can relay it accurately.
A brief written note can help if you find a change. Include the date, which foot it is and a precise location. If your clinician asks for a photo, follow their instructions on how to send it. A photo can show what the skin looked like that day, while your description can capture things the image misses, such as warmth or whether a shoe began rubbing in the same spot. Call promptly about a wound while the details are fresh.
If you occasionally forget, resume the next time you take off your socks. If you keep missing the same area because of poor vision, stiff joints or limited reach, bring that practical problem to a visit. A clinician can help you decide where you need another person’s assistance or a different setup. That matters more than choosing a particular time of day.
If you rely on a family member to help, decide who will make the call if the check turns up something new. Keep the clinic number and any after-hours instructions where both of you can find them. When a spot is difficult to describe, use a landmark such as the edge of the little toenail or the centre of the heel. That makes it easier to discuss changes in the same spot over time.
Ask for a plan that fits your level of risk
Bring a short list of questions to your next appointment. You might ask how often you should have a professional foot exam, who to call about a skin change after hours and what to do if your vision or mobility makes the check difficult. Mention any shoes that leave marks and bring them if you can. A professional assessment can check sensation and circulation and help you make sense of recurring pressure that is hard to assess at home.
For help setting up a routine or reviewing recurring pressure spots, get in touch with Steady Gait in Scarborough to ask about diabetic foot care.