A simple at-home foot check between clinical visits
A calm two-minute weekly check helps catch small foot problems early — especially if you have diabetes. Here's exactly what to look for, and when to call your nurse or doctor.
By The Phamily team
Clinical foot care happens every six to eight weeks for most of our clients. The weeks in between are where small problems either get caught early or quietly grow. This is a simple, calm at-home check you can do once a week. It is not a diagnosis — it is a way to know what to mention to your nurse or doctor.
Why a weekly look matters
Feet are easy to ignore because they are far away and usually quiet. But the things worth catching early — a pressure spot, a tiny crack, a colour change — are easiest to treat when they are small. A two-minute look once a week is often all it takes.
The five-point check
- Skin. Run your eyes (and a hand, if you can reach) over the whole foot, including between the toes and the heel. You are looking for cracks, redness that does not fade, or any broken skin.
- Nails. Note any nail that is thickening, lifting, or changing colour. These are exactly the things your foot care team is trained to manage.
- Pressure points. A callus or corn that is building back quickly usually means something is rubbing — a shoe, a seam, a sock. Worth flagging.
- Feeling. Gently notice whether sensation feels the same in both feet. Reduced feeling is important to mention, especially if you have diabetes.
- Temperature and colour. A foot that is noticeably cooler, warmer, or a different colour than the other is worth a conversation with your nurse or physician.
What to do with what you find
Most weeks you will find nothing, and that is the point — you will know it is fine. When you do spot something:
- A small thing (a building callus, a slightly thick nail): note it and mention it at your next appointment.
- Broken skin, a wound that will not heal, or new numbness: do not wait for your next salon visit. Call your family physician. We would always rather you over-mention than ignore.
If you have diabetes
Please be especially consistent with the weekly check, and never try to cut or shave a callus or corn yourself. That is precisely the work your foot care team does safely, with the right tools and nurse oversight. Bring anything you notice to your appointment — there is no such thing as a silly thing to flag.
A weekly look, a regular appointment, and a quick call when something changes. That simple rhythm is what keeps feet healthy and keeps small problems small.