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What to do if…
you have diabetes and a foot blister or wound that is worsening or looks infected

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Treat this as urgent today: contact your diabetes foot team, podiatry service, GP surgery, NHS 111, or your local urgent-care route and say you have diabetes and a worsening or infected-looking foot blister or wound. If the foot is rapidly worsening, looks black, blue, grey or very swollen, or you feel very unwell, call 999 or go to A&E.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait overnight if it is getting worse, spreading, hot, red, swollen, leaking fluid or pus, smelly, or you feel unwell.
  • Do not pop, cut, drain, peel, or dig at the blister or wound.
  • Do not soak the foot in a bath, foot spa, salt water, or disinfectant.
  • Do not scrub the area or put antiseptic creams, powders, home remedies, or strong dressings on broken skin unless a clinician has told you to.
  • Do not keep walking on it to test whether it settles; pressure can make a diabetes-related foot wound worse.
  • Do not walk barefoot, even indoors, if you need to move.
  • Do not use a hot water bottle, heating pad, or very hot water on the foot; reduced sensation can make burns easier to miss.
  • Do not take leftover antibiotics or someone else’s antibiotics.

What to do now

  1. Take pressure off the foot now. Sit or lie down, gently remove your shoe and sock, and keep weight off that foot as much as you can. If you need to move, keep it brief, avoid barefoot walking, and avoid any shoe that rubs or presses on the blister or wound.

  2. Check for emergency signs. Call 999 or go to A&E now if you notice any of these:

    • the foot or toes look black, blue, grey, very pale, or suddenly much more swollen
    • redness, heat, swelling, or pain is spreading quickly
    • pus, a bad smell, or a wound that seems deep
    • fever, shivering, confusion, fast breathing, vomiting, faintness, or feeling very unwell
    • blood glucose is suddenly much harder to control than usual and you feel unwell

  3. Cover and protect the area. If there is visible dirt, gently rinse it with clean running water. Do not soak or scrub it. Pat dry and cover it with a clean, dry, non-sticky sterile dressing if you have one. Keep the dressing loose enough that it does not restrict circulation.

  4. Get same-day medical contact and use clear words.

    • If you have a diabetes foot clinic, podiatry service, diabetes nurse, or foot protection team contact, call them today.
    • If you do not have that number, call your GP surgery and say: “I have diabetes and a worsening or infected-looking foot blister or wound. I need same-day advice or assessment.”
    • If it is out of hours, you cannot get through, or you are unsure where to go, use NHS 111 or your local urgent-care route and say the same.

  5. Make triage easier without delaying help. Take 2 or 3 photos in good light, with a clean object near the wound for scale, not on it. Note when it started, whether redness is spreading, whether there is fluid, pus or smell, your temperature if you can check it, and your recent glucose readings if you monitor them.

  6. Keep diabetes care steady while you wait for advice. Check your glucose more often if you normally monitor it, drink fluids, and follow your usual sick-day plan if you have one. If you use insulin, do not stop it unless your diabetes team or an urgent-care clinician tells you to. If readings are repeatedly very high, repeatedly low, or you cannot keep fluids down, tell NHS 111, your local urgent-care service, your GP, or your diabetes team.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide whether this is definitely an ulcer, cellulitis, Charcot foot, or a serious infection right now.
  • You do not need to research wound products, special shoes, antibiotics, dressings, or surgery today.
  • You do not need to write a full medical history before asking for help; just have your medication list, diabetes type if known, and recent glucose readings ready if you can.
  • You do not need to solve future footwear or long-term foot care today; the first job is assessment and keeping pressure off the area.

Important reassurance

It makes sense to feel alarmed, because foot problems can worsen faster when you have diabetes, especially if sensation or circulation is reduced. Asking for same-day help is not overreacting; it is the safest first step and can prevent bigger treatment later.

Scope note

These are first steps to reduce harm and help you get assessed quickly. Later decisions about dressings, pressure relief, antibiotics, scans, circulation checks, or specialist follow-up need a clinician who can examine the foot.

Important note

This is general information, not medical or professional advice, and it cannot diagnose the wound. If you feel very unwell, the foot is rapidly worsening, or the skin looks black, blue, grey, or very pale, seek urgent medical care now.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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