Cracked Heels and Diabetes

Diabetes does not make every heel crack a diabetic wound. However, dry skin and reduced sweating can leave the heel surface more fragile, while nerve changes may reduce awareness of pain or heat. Circulation problems can affect the skin's ability to repair itself. A fissure may begin with ordinary pressure from walking, footwear or callus, yet deserve closer monitoring when diabetes is present. Itching and scaling can also suggest Athlete's Foot, which requires separate assessment.

Inspect both feet each day, including the heel edges, using a mirror if needed. Wash with warm rather than hot water, dry carefully and apply emollient to dry heel skin, keeping product out of spaces between the toes. Wear well-fitting shoes and clean socks; do not walk barefoot or use blades, corn plasters or strong acids on callus. Contact your diabetes or foot-care team for personalised advice about an open crack, especially if sensation is reduced.

Seek prompt medical assessment for any crack that is open, bleeding, increasingly painful, warm, swollen, discoloured or leaking fluid. Do the same for a new blister, ulcer, fever or redness that spreads. Reduced sensation can hide worsening injury, so do not wait for pain to become severe. Keep the area clean and protected while arranging advice, and do not try to close a deep fissure yourself.

How should I moisturise without irritating the skin between my toes? Should this fissure be examined by a foot-care professional? How can I check the heel safely if I have numbness? Could Athlete's Foot be contributing, and what symptoms require same-day advice?