Take a look at your feet for a second. It's okay, I'll wait. Come on now, don't just glance at them. Take a good look. See anything out of the ordinary? Chances are that you didn't (though if anything's green or red or painful, we can safely assume that's not a good thing). That could of course be because your feet are healthy; because you didn't listen to me and look properly; or simply because you're not qualified to accurately inspect your feet. It is for this last reason that a regular foot inspection is so important, vitally so in the case of diabetic patients.

Complications such as diabetic neuropathy occur when high blood sugar levels are present in the body for a number of years. This causes damage to nerve endings in the feet and can in time spread to the legs, reducing sensation as it goes. Needless to say, reduced sensation, while not only uncomfortable can lead to further injuries. Because it is most common in the feet, regularly (yearly at the very least) foot check-ups are of considerable importance.

It is through regular foot inspections that complications like the above and other ailments can be noted and possibly avoided. As is the case with anything that ails our bodies, early detection is of the utmost importance if one is to avoid serious, chronic or even life-threatening problems. By picking up on these warning signs, nerve damage and slowly progressive injuries can be treated before they get out of hand. Although it's best to have your feet inspected by a trained foot doctor, below are some basic checks you can do yourself:

Feet Inspection Tips:

Feel your feet. Are they excessively hot or cold? Excessive dryness can be a possible indication of nerve damage.
Inspect the foot for fragile, shiny or thin skin; indicative of reduced blood flow to that area.
Examine the entirety of your foot; underneath, between the toes, on the heel, for obvious signs such as blisters, sores, cracks, or any injury that could lead to infection.
Check your shoes and socks for blood or bodily discharge that would indicate a wound of some kind. Though, we're guessing that you'd know if your feet were bleeding. But you know, that's just us. Besides, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Wiggle your toes. Okay so we just put this one in 'cos we thought it'd be fun. Feel free to sing 'This Little Piggy Went To Market' while you're down there

All done? Come back next week and we'll do foot inspections together. We respect foot care 'round these parts. People seldom give much thought to their feet unless something is about to or already has gone wrong with them. It doesn't hurt to be prepared though and so we've taken the liberty of assembling product links to all the preventative pedicure kits and other foot care products you might need, all handily placed to the right of this article. One at a time now, there's no need to rush!