These cards were prepared in plain Turkish for people with diabetes and their families. They do not provide a diagnosis or replace individual medical advice. You can download the cards as PDFs or use them as a checklist before an appointment.
Daily care
60 seconds
Downloadable
A 60-second foot check every day
- Check the top of your foot, sole and heel in a well-lit place; use a mirror if needed.
- Look for cracks, moisture, blisters or wounds between your toes.
- Look for new redness, swelling, a difference in warmth, calluses, bleeding or changes in color.
- Use your hand to check inside your shoes for stones, seams, folded insoles or foreign objects.
- Note the date of any new change and share it with your healthcare team.
- Do not wait if there is an open wound or a rapidly changing sign.
Urgent sign
Same-day assessment
When should you seek help the same day?
- A new open wound, blister, bleeding or discharge
- Rapidly increasing redness, swelling or a difference in warmth
- An unpleasant odor, pus, fever or chills
- Blackening, a bluish color, or a cold/pale foot
- A warm, swollen foot with a change in shape
Important: With diabetes-related loss of sensation, a serious wound or infection may be painless. The absence of pain is not a safe reason to wait.
Daily care
2 minutes
Washing, drying and skin care
Do
- Use lukewarm water; check its temperature with your hand or a thermometer.
- Gently dry your feet, especially between the toes.
- Apply a thin layer of moisturizer to dry skin.
Do not
- Do not soak your feet for a long time.
- Do not apply moisturizer between the toes.
- Do not use a hot-water bottle, heating pad or direct heat.
Prevention
2 minutes
Shoe and sock checklist
- Before putting on shoes, check inside for foreign objects, seams or folds.
- Choose shoes that are wide enough, do not rub and leave room for your toes.
- Start wearing new shoes for short periods; check your feet after every use.
- Wear clean, dry socks that are not tight and change them daily.
- Do not walk barefoot, even indoors.
Wound
First steps
When you notice a wound
Do
- Protect the wound with a clean, dry dressing.
- Reduce weight-bearing on it and contact your healthcare team the same day.
- Note when you first noticed the wound.
Do not
- Do not use sharp instruments on a callus or wound.
- Do not apply antibiotics, acid-based corn treatments or herbal products unless recommended by your physician.
- Do not leave the wound uncovered to “let it breathe.”
Risk
Neuropathy
Why does loss of sensation matter?
Diabetes-related nerve damage can reduce your ability to feel pain, temperature and pressure. A small stone, friction or a hot surface can therefore cause a wound without being noticed. Daily visual checks, appropriate footwear and regular professional examinations are important.
Risk
Circulation
Signs of poor circulation
Calf pain when walking, foot pain at rest, coldness, pallor/bluish discoloration, hair loss or a wound that does not heal may require a circulation assessment. A foot that suddenly becomes cold, pale, painful or numb requires emergency assessment.
Urgent sign
Charcot warning
A warm, red and swollen foot
Particularly in someone with loss of sensation, one foot that is noticeably warmer, more swollen or redder than the other may suggest a condition requiring urgent assessment, such as Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy, even without a wound. Reduce weight-bearing and seek professional assessment the same day.
Appointment
Checklist
Preparing for the consultation
- Prepare your medication and allergy list.
- Note your blood glucose monitoring information and latest HbA1c result, if you know it.
- Mention any previous wound, operation, vascular procedure or amputation.
- Bring previous X-rays, MRI scans, culture results and vascular studies, if available.
- Bring your usual shoes and offloading device.
Scientific basis
Draft content update: August 2026. Final medical review by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Gökhan Bilgili is required before publication on the live site.
