Do you want to avoid serious foot problems that can lead to a toe, foot, or leg amputation? Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime tells you how. It's all about taking good care of your feet.

Foot care is very important for people with diabetes who have:

• Loss of feeling in their feet.
• Changes in the shape of their feet.
• Foot ulcers or sores that do not heal.

Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet. You may not feel a pebble inside your sock that is causing a sore. You may not feel a blister caused by poorly fitting shoes.Foot injuries such as these can cause ulcers which may lead to amputation.

Keeping your blood sugar (glucose) in good control and taking care of your feet every day can help you avoid serious foot problems.

Use this guide to make your own plan for taking care of your feet. Helpful tips make it easy!

Share your plan with your doctor and health care team and get their help when you need it.

There is a lot you can do to prevent serious problems with your feet. Here's how.

1. Take care of your diabetes.

Make healthy lifestyle choices to help keep your blood sugar close to normal. Keeping your blood sugar under good control may help prevent or delay diabetes-related foot problems as well as eye and kidney disease.

Work with your health care team to make a diabetes plan that fits your lifestyle. The team may include: your doctor, a diabetes educator, a nurse, a dietitian, a foot care doctor called a podiatrist (pah-di'ah-trist), and other specialists. This team will help you to: