Living with diabetes in Arizona means managing your health in one of the hottest, driest climates in the country. That creates a unique set of foot care challenges that patients in more temperate states don’t always face: extreme heat that dries and cracks skin, summer temperatures hot enough to burn feet through sandals or on pavement, and a lifestyle that often involves sandals, flip flops, and outdoor activities that expose the feet to harm.
Diabetes affects more than 11% of the U.S. adult population, and Arizona consistently ranks among the states with the highest diabetes prevalence. At Sole Foot & Ankle Specialists in Glendale, our podiatrists work with diabetic patients every day to prevent the foot complications that, when unmanaged, can lead to hospitalizations, amputations, and life-altering consequences.
The good news: the vast majority of diabetic foot complications are preventable. This checklist is designed to give every diabetic patient in the West Valley a practical, actionable framework for daily foot protection.
Daily Foot Inspection: Your Most Important Habit
Every diabetic patient with any degree of peripheral neuropathy — meaning any numbness, tingling, or reduced sensation in the feet — should inspect their feet daily, without exception.
Here is what to look for:
Check the top, bottom, sides, and heels of both feet. Use a handheld mirror to see the bottom of your foot if bending is difficult, or ask a family member to help.
Look for cuts, scrapes, blisters, or abrasions — even tiny ones. With neuropathy, you may not feel these injuries, but they can become infected rapidly.
Look for redness, warmth, or swelling that was not there yesterday. These can indicate early infection or the beginning of a Charcot foot episode.
Check between every toe for cracks, skin maceration (white, soggy-looking skin), or fungal infection.
Look for changes in nail color or thickness that could indicate nail fungus.
Note any new areas of callus buildup, particularly on the ball of the foot — callus under pressure can conceal a developing ulcer.
If you find anything that concerns you, do not wait. Contact Sole Foot & Ankle Specialists at (602) 938-3600 for a same-week evaluation. With diabetic foot concerns, 48 hours can make the difference between an easy treatment and a hospitalization.
Daily Foot Washing and Drying
Wash your feet every day in lukewarm water — not hot. With neuropathy, you may not accurately sense water temperature, and burns are a real and common risk. Always test water temperature with your elbow or a bath thermometer before placing your foot in.
Use a mild soap and wash gently. Avoid soaking the feet for extended periods as this can dry out the skin.
Dry feet thoroughly after washing — including between each toe. Moisture between the toes creates an ideal environment for fungal infections like athlete’s foot, which can create entry points for bacterial infections in diabetic patients.
Moisturizing: Keeping Skin Intact in Arizona’s Dry Climate
Arizona’s low humidity and intense heat are particularly drying for skin, and diabetic skin already tends toward dryness due to autonomic neuropathy affecting the sweat glands. Dry, cracked skin — especially on the heels — is one of the most common precursors to diabetic foot wounds.
Apply a moisturizing lotion or cream to the tops and bottoms of your feet daily. Good options include urea-based creams or lotions containing shea butter, glycerin, or lactic acid.
Do not apply moisturizer between the toes — moisture retained in these spaces increases fungal risk.
If your heels are significantly cracked, speak with our podiatrists about medical-grade heel treatments, as cracked heels can develop into wounds in diabetic patients.
Toenail Care: When to Do It Yourself and When to See a Podiatrist
Toenail trimming is a surprisingly high-risk activity for diabetic patients. A small nick from nail clippers can create an entry point for infection that, with impaired immunity and circulation, refuses to heal.
General guidelines for diabetic toenail care: trim nails straight across, not curved. Never cut into the corners. File sharp edges with an emery board. Use clean, well-maintained nail clippers.
However, if your nails are thickened, discolored, or very difficult to cut — all common with nail fungus — or if your eyesight or manual dexterity makes safe trimming difficult, let our podiatrists handle it. Routine nail care is one of the most important preventive services we provide for diabetic patients, and it should be performed professionally for anyone at elevated wound risk.
Footwear: The Single Most Protective Choice You Make Every Day
The shoes you wear (or don’t wear) have a direct and immediate impact on your diabetic foot risk.
Never go barefoot — indoors or outdoors. Even walking from the bedroom to the bathroom without shoes exposes your feet to stepping on sharp objects, burns on hot tile or pavement, and pressure injuries. Indoor slippers with closed, protective toes and non-slip soles are appropriate for home use.
Always check inside your shoes before putting them on. With neuropathy, you won’t feel a small stone, fold in the lining, or piece of debris until it has created a wound. Make it a habit every single time.
Wear well-fitting shoes with a wide toe box that does not compress the toes, adequate cushioning in the sole, no internal seams that create friction hotspots, and adjustable closures that accommodate any swelling. Avoid flip flops, open-toed shoes, and sandals that leave the foot exposed.
Medicare and many private insurers cover therapeutic diabetic shoes and custom insoles for qualifying patients. Ask our team whether you qualify — diabetic footwear is one of the most cost-effective preventive interventions available.
Arizona-Specific Cautions
Arizona summers create specific hazards for diabetic feet that deserve explicit attention.
Hot pavement: ground temperature in Phoenix and Glendale during summer can reach 150°F to 170°F at peak heat. Neuropathic patients who walk barefoot on pavement, pool decks, or parking lots for even a few seconds can sustain severe burns that they don’t feel until significant damage is done. We see these burns every summer. Always wear protective footwear outdoors — without exception.
Hot sand at parks or lakes presents the same risk. Sandals do not adequately protect the soles from radiant heat.
Sunscreen on feet: when feet are exposed during outdoor activities, apply sunscreen — the tops and particularly the edges of the feet and toes are common sites of sunburn that can become infected wounds in diabetic patients.
Warning Signs to Never Ignore
Contact Sole Foot & Ankle Specialists immediately if you notice any of the following:
Any open wound, blister, or sore that has been present for more than 24 to 48 hours without beginning to heal. Any redness, warmth, or swelling around a wound. Any foul odor from a foot wound. Fever combined with a foot concern. Blackening or dark discoloration of any part of the foot or a toe. Pain that is absent where you expected it to hurt — this can paradoxically be a bad sign, indicating nerve damage has progressed.
Schedule Your Annual (or More Frequent) Diabetic Foot Exam
A professional diabetic foot exam is not just a checkup — it is a diagnostic assessment that evaluates your nerve function, circulation, skin integrity, nail health, and biomechanics, and identifies risk factors that might not be visible to you at home. Our podiatrists at Sole Foot & Ankle Specialists in Glendale perform comprehensive diabetic foot exams and work with your primary care physician and endocrinologist as part of your integrated diabetes care team.
If you are a diabetic patient in Glendale, Phoenix, Peoria, Sun City, or surrounding areas and haven’t had a foot exam in the past year — or if you have a current foot concern — call us at (602) 938-3600. Protecting your feet today is one of the most powerful investments you can make in your long-term health and independence.
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*This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance.*