Why do doctors emphasize checking my feet every day, and what exactly am I looking for?

Long-term elevated blood sugar can cause a condition called peripheral neuropathy, which gradually damages the nerves in your extremities, particularly your feet. This nerve damage means you might lose sensation and not feel a blister, a small cut, or a pebble in your shoe. Because diabetes can also reduce blood flow, these unnoticed minor injuries can quickly escalate into severe, hard-to-heal infections. When performing your daily foot check, you are looking for any cuts, swelling, redness, blisters, dry cracked skin, or ingrown toenails. Catching these tiny issues immediately, treating them properly, and keeping your feet clean and moisturized is the absolute best way to prevent minor problems from turning into major complications down the road.