✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026

The True Cost of Skipping Diabetic Foot Exams — A Preventable Tragedy

The most dangerous statement a diabetic patient can make is: “My feet feel fine.”

Peripheral neuropathy — nerve damage caused by chronically elevated blood sugar — affects over 50% of people with long-term diabetes. It doesn’t just cause pain. More dangerously, it causes the absence of pain. You can’t feel the callus forming. You can’t feel the wound that opened. By the time you do feel something, the infection has already set in.

What You’re Missing When You Skip Your Exam

The Medicare-Covered Benefits You’re Leaving on the Table

Medicare covers an extensive range of diabetic foot care that most patients don’t know about:

• Annual diabetic foot exam: $0 copay in most cases
• Therapeutic footwear: 1 pair of shoes + 3 pairs of custom inserts annually — typically $0–$25 copay
• Routine foot care (nail trimming, callus treatment) every 60 days for qualifying patients
• Wound care if issues develop

These benefits are available to virtually every Medicare beneficiary with diabetes. If you’re not using them, you’re paying more (in time, money, and risk) than you need to.

The Diabetic Foot Monitoring Kit

Don’t wait for symptoms that neuropathy may prevent you from feeling. Schedule your annual diabetic foot exam today — it’s covered, it’s fast, and it could save your foot.

Clinical Foot Care Beyond Products: Michigan’s Balance Foot & Ankle

Michigan patients using foot care products — wound care supplies, topical treatments, foot supplements, compression garments, orthotics, or stretching devices — as part of their foot health routine benefit from occasional clinical evaluation to ensure the products they are using are appropriate for their specific condition and that no developing pathology requires professional intervention. At Balance Foot & Ankle, our clinical evaluation confirms the diagnosis, assesses whether current product-based management is adequate, and identifies cases where professional treatment would produce better outcomes than continued self-management.

For Michigan patients managing chronic conditions — diabetic foot care, neuropathy management, post-surgical recovery, or persistent tendinopathy — regular podiatric check-ins at appropriate intervals ensure that small changes are caught before they become significant complications. The right interval varies by condition and risk level: high-risk diabetic patients benefit from quarterly visits; stable patients using products for minor chronic conditions may need only annual check-ins. At Balance Foot & Ankle, we help patients identify the appropriate visit frequency for their specific situation. Livingston and Oakland County patients can call (810) 206-1402 to schedule at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills office.

Patients throughout Livingston and Oakland counties trust Balance Foot & Ankle for both clinical podiatric care and evidence-based guidance on foot health products and self-care strategies. Our two Michigan locations — Howell at 4330 E Grand River and Bloomfield Hills at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 — are easily accessible from throughout the region, with ample parking and same-week scheduling for new patients. Whether you need a comprehensive evaluation, a product recommendation, or a specific podiatric procedure, our team is ready to help. Call (810) 206-1402 to schedule.

Michigan patients can access expert diabetic foot care in Michigan at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our board-certified podiatrists serve Howell (4330 E Grand River) and Bloomfield Hills (43494 Woodward Ave #208). Schedule an appointment online or call (810) 206-1402 for same-week availability.

Related Patient Guides

• Diabetic Foot Care Daily Routine
• Neuropathy Exercises for Feet
• Neuropathy in Feet: Relief Guide
• PAD & Foot Symptoms: Circulation Warning Signs
• 12 Signs You Need to See a Podiatrist

Medical References & Sources

• American Diabetes Association — Foot Complications
• PubMed Research — Diabetic Foot Care
• American Podiatric Medical Association — Diabetic Foot

Clinical References

1. Boulton AJ, et al. Comprehensive foot examination and risk assessment. Diabetes Care. 2008;31(8):1679-1685.
2. Singh N, et al. Preventing foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. JAMA. 2005;293(2):217-228.
3. Armstrong DG, et al. Diabetic foot ulcers and their recurrence. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(24):2367-2375.

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.