Best Foot Health Products for People with Diabetes

• Best for inspecting your feet: HARDK Telescoping LED Flexible Inspection Mirror
• Best hands-free foot scrubber: LOVE, LORI Shower Foot Scrubber, Massager, and Cleaner
• Best for exfoliating in the bath: New Product Solutions Miracle Foot Brush with Pumice Stone
• Best moisturizing foot cream: Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion
• Best aloe vera foot cream: Miracle Foot Repair Cream
• Best essential oil foot cream: USA Naturals Tea Tree Oil Foot Cream
• Best for trimming your toenails: Harperton Nippit Precision Toenail Clipper
• Best for keeping your feet warm and dry: Trueform Knee-High Compression Socks and Stockings
• Best for keeping your feet covered indoors: IceUnicorn Comfort House Slippers
• Best for protecting your feet in the shower: Finleoo Shower Sandal Slippers with Drainage Holes

Your feet are the very foundation of your body, supporting its weight and keeping you moving. While foot health is important for anybody, it’s especially important for people with diabetes.

Serious complications can result from poor foot health. Diabetes can impact wound healing time, leading to infection. And because the condition can cause nerve damage, you may not notice foot problems until they’ve become so serious they require amputation.

To keep your feet healthy, there are a few key things you should do.

• Inspect your feet daily, checking for problems like cuts, bunions, dry skin, or overgrown nails.
• Bathe your feet gently to avoid odor, athlete’s foot, and infections.
• Moisturize to prevent dry, cracked skin, but don’t use lotion between your toes. Too much moisture there can increase the risk of fungal infection.
• Cut your toenails carefully, but leave any ingrown nails, calluses, or corns to a professional.
• Keep your feet warm and dry with comfortable, moisture-wicking, nonbinding socks.
• Don’t go barefoot, even indoors. Wear shoes, slippers, or shower shoes to protect your feet from fungus and bacteria.
• Have your doctor examine your feet yearly.

Doing each of the above is easier if you have the right tools and products to work with. There’s a wealth of products available, but it can be hard to sort through all of them to find the right ones.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how we selected the best foot health products for people with diabetes:

• Pricing: We made sure to include products at a variety of price points to fit different budgets.
• Customer reviews: We only include picks with rave reviews from customers.

Best for inspecting your feet

HARDK Telescoping LED Flexible Inspection Mirror

• Price: $

The flexible 360-degree swivel neck of this LED lighted mirror means you can bend it into whatever position you need. You can even make it stand on its own, so your hands are left free to inspect your feet.

Best hands-free foot scrubber

LOVE, LORI Shower Foot Scrubber, Massager, and Cleaner

• Price: $$

This textured plastic pad has suction cups that attach to the floor of your shower. That way, you don’t have to balance on one foot while you wash the other. You can simply add shower gel and rub your foot across the pad for a good scrub.

Some reviewers find the bristles on this brush to be too hard, so it might not be a good choice if you have sensitive feet.

Best for exfoliating in the bath

New Product Solutions Miracle Foot Brush with Pumice Stone

• Price: $$$

If you prefer taking a bath instead of a shower, this brush may work better for you. Its 30-inch handle makes it easy to reach your feet while in the tub. The built-in pumice stone is useful for exfoliating rough skin.

Best moisturizing foot cream

Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion

• Price: $

This is a good, basic moisturizing lotion that has ingredients like ceramide 3 and glycerin to treat dry skin.

Ceramide provides a protective layer that holds moisture in the skin and acts as a barrier to bacteria. Glycerin pulls moisture into the top layers of skin, plumping it up.

This lotion is also made without added fragrance and is nongreasy.

Best aloe vera foot cream

Miracle Foot Repair Cream

• Price: $$

This cream takes advantage of the soothing and cooling properties of aloe vera plants. Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera also contains antioxidants, enzymes, and vitamins A and C that can keep your skin healthy.

The cream also contains caprylic triglyceride, which can help soften dry, cracked skin and hold in moisture.

Best essential oil foot cream

USA Naturals Tea Tree Oil Foot Cream

• Price: $$

Tea tree oil has natural antifungal properties that can counter athlete’s foot and other infections. In addition, this cream contains:

• peppermint oil, which can help soothe itching
• aloe vera and eucalyptus oil, which can fight inflammation and help heal wounds

For trimming your toenails

Harperton Nippit Precision Toenail Clipper

• Price: $$$

Shaped like scissors, these heavy-duty, sharp clippers trim thick nails more easily and safely than a traditional nail clipper.

Some people also find the design helps keep their hand steady and is less awkward to use than a traditional nail clipper.

For keeping your feet warm and dry

Truform Knee-High Compression Socks and Stockings

• Price: $$

Compression stockings apply pressure to the legs to keep circulation going. Over time, this helps bring down swelling and can help decrease leg pain.

Truform makes a wide range of compression socks in various compression strengths, sizes, and colors. All of these choices make it easier to get the amount of support you need while still looking stylish.

For keeping your feet covered indoors

IceUnicorn Comfort House Slippers

• Price: $$–$$$

These slide-on slippers are the very definition of comfy. Their memory foam soles provide cushioning that forms to your feet.

They’re warm, and the uppers are made of breathable material that wicks moisture, keeping your feet dry.

These come in a range of women’s and men’s sizes, as well as a variety of colors.

Best for protecting your feet in the shower

Finleoo Shower Sandal Slippers with Drainage Holes

• Price point: $$

These slippers keep your feet off the floor, where there may be harmful fungus and bacteria. They provide added safety with an anti-slip sole and are perfect for the gym, beach, or spa.

Water drains out the holes in the bottom, so they’re quick-drying and can be worn in the shower.

They also come in a range of women’s and men’s sizes, as well as a variety of colors.

Everyone’s feet are unique, so it may take some trial and error to find the slippers, scrub brushes, or lotions that work best for you.

Work with your doctor to figure out what you need. They may also be able to suggest or recommend specific products.

Here are a few additional tips:

• When shopping for mirrors, bathing products, and shoes or slippers, keep in mind your lifestyle and preferences, such as if you tend to take baths or showers.
• When shopping for lotions, look for those that contain skin-healthy ingredients and essential oils with antifungal properties.
• When shopping for socks, check for compression options, or those with features like Cupron or seamless toes.

There’s a lot you can do every day to keep your feet healthy, including inspecting, bathing, and moisturizing them, as well as keeping them dry and clear of fungus and bacteria. The right products can help with all of that.

It’s also important to have your doctor check your feet at least once a year. They’ll examine your feet thoroughly and assess their health.

Together, your daily foot care and an annual check will help keep you healthy and on the move.

What problems do people with diabetes have with their feet?

Diabetes can cause nerve damage that causes pain, tingling, and loss of feeling. Numbness can make it more difficult to notice slow-healing cuts and blisters on your feet, which can develop into serious infections.

What are the signs of diabetic feet?

Signs of diabetes-related foot problems may include:

• swelling
• pain in your lower legs
• open sores
• ingrown nails
• nail infections
• calluses and dry cracked skin
• changes in skin color or temperature

How can I improve my diabetic feet?

Keeping your diabetes under control and taking care of your feet can prevent problems down the road. Remember to regularly check your feet to make sure there are no cuts or open sores.

Taking care of yourself while living with diabetes involves more than just managing your blood sugar. Keeping a close eye on your foot health is important, too. Foot problems are common in people with diabetes.

Proper foot care can help prevent serious foot health problems that may increase your risk for severe infection and amputation.

And having the right tools can make taking care of your feet that much easier.

Corinna Cornejo is a content writer who lives with type 2 diabetes. Her experience as a patient and caregiver informs her health content writing, which is aimed at informing people about how to live their best life. Since being diagnosed a decade ago, Corinna has become a patient advocate and blogger. Read more on her patient blog, Type 2 Musings, and follow her at @type2musings.

Steph Coelho is a freelance writer with chronic migraine who has a particular interest in health and wellness. When she’s not click-clacking away on her keyboard, she’s probably nose-deep in a good book.