Managing Your Diabetes: A Comprehensive Guide to Foot Health and Overall Wellness

When discussing diabetes management with my patients, nutrition is always our starting point. Achieving optimal blood sugar control is fundamental to your overall health and wellbeing. This is why understanding how to use a glucometer is essential—without monitoring how different foods affect your blood sugar levels, you’re navigating your health without crucial information. It’s important to remember that each person’s body responds differently to various foods, which is why personalized monitoring is so valuable. Today, numerous evidence-based resources are available to help you understand appropriate dietary choices for diabetes management. I recommend checking your blood sugar at least twice daily, including a fasting measurement each morning before eating.

Tracking Your Progress

Every newly diagnosed patient with diabetes should maintain both a food log and a blood sugar log.

For the first two weeks, I recommend documenting everything you eat and drink, then checking your blood sugar one hour after each meal and recording the result. This practice provides valuable insight into how specific foods affect your glucose levels, allowing you to make informed adjustments to your diet as needed.

The Role of Physical Activity

Exercise ranks second only to nutrition in diabetes management.

Physical activity functions like an engine that helps your body process glucose more efficiently. Research demonstrates that a simple 10-minute walk after meals can impact blood sugar levels as significantly as some medications. By walking for 10 minutes after breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you’ll accumulate 30 minutes of daily activity. Beyond blood sugar control, regular walking—particularly outdoors—offers numerous additional health benefits. If you’re beginning a new exercise routine, please schedule an appointment with your Upperline Health podiatrist to discuss appropriate footwear and receive personalized guidance.

Essential Daily Foot Care Habits

Successful diabetes management relies on consistent daily practices.

Foot care, in particular, requires a systematic approach. I encourage all my patients with diabetes to follow a daily foot inspection checklist—whether mental or written—to monitor for potential concerns. Each day, examine your feet carefully for any of the following:

Skin cracks or fissures
Calluses or areas of thickened skin
Redness or discoloration
Blisters
Open wounds or sores

Early detection and prompt treatment of these issues can prevent serious complications. If you notice any of these concerns, please contact your Upperline Health podiatrist immediately. As I often tell my patients: I’d much rather address your questions in the office than treat a serious problem in the hospital.

Support for Every Step Forward

Your proactive involvement in monitoring and managing your diabetes is the key to maintaining your health and preventing complications. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

About the Author

H. Austin Hewlett, DPM, FACFAS, QME

Dr. Hewlett is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and serves as the Sports Medicine Fellowship Director for Upperline Health in Newport Beach, California. He has been a partner at Upperline Health since 2019 and brings decades of clinical and leadership experience to his practice.

Before beginning his formal medical education, Dr. Hewlett spent four years traveling internationally, surfing, and studying viticulture in Australia. He later earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego, before completing his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at Temple University.

Dr. Hewlett has been a member of the Orthopedic Executive Committee at Saint Joseph’s Hospital for more than 15 years and has served the Orange County community with dedication and compassion for over 25 years. His commitment to ongoing education and advanced training allows him to provide the highest level of care, combining clinical excellence with a patient-centered approach.

Dr. Hewlett is available for appointments at the following locations: