1. Check blood pressure and fat levels Have your blood pressure checked at every doctor’s visit. The target for most people with diabetes is 140 over 90. Your cholesterol and triglyceride levels – both types of blood fats – should be checked at least once a year. For people with diabetes, the target is below 100 for LDL, or bad cholesterol; HDL, or good cholesterol, levels should be above 40 for women and 50 for men. Triglyceride levels should be below 150. 2. Wash your feet daily Before you immerse your foot, check the water temperature with your hand because your feet may not feel heat. Use warm water, not hot, and don’t soak – it can dry out your skin and lead to cracking. Dry your feet carefully and apply moisturizing cream or baby oil to prevent dryness. Don’t put cream between the toes; the moist conditions can encourage infection. 3. Trim weekly After you’ve washed your feet, trim your toenails straight across and file off any snags with an emery board. While your feet are still wet, you can carefully smooth corns and calluses with a pumice stone. If you can’t see well, can’t reach your feet, or have tough or ingrown nails, let your podiatrist do the trimming. 4. Get shoe savvy Before you put on your shoes, feel inside to make sure there are no stones or other debris. Avoid shoes that are too tight, pointy, or high-heeled, or that have stitching inside that might abrade your foot. Buy shoes at the end of the day when your feet will likely be a bit swollen. A good choice is athletic or walking shoes, which allow air to circulate inside the shoe (unlike vinyl or plastic shoes) and offer flexibility and support. 5. Quit smoking Smoking raises the risk of foot complications by narrowing and hardening your blood vessels so that fewer nutrients and insufficient oxygen reach your feet. Smoking also keeps your cholesterol and blood pressure levels up and puts you at greater risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and amputation.