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

Diabetic Foot Exam — What Happens & Why It Could Save Your Foot

Your Annual Diabetic Foot Exam — Explained

Many diabetic patients avoid scheduling their annual foot exam because they don’t know what to expect or feel anxious about what we might find. Here’s the complete, reassuring explanation — and why this 30-minute appointment covered by Medicare could genuinely save your foot. Call (810) 206-1402. Our Bloomfield Hills office shares a building with the Grunberger Diabetes Institute for coordinated diabetic care.

What Happens During Your Diabetic Foot Exam

Skin assessment: We examine every surface of both feet for calluses, cracks, wounds, fungal infections, skin color changes, and temperature asymmetry. Nail assessment: Thickness, color, ingrown edges, fungal changes, and any trauma. Musculoskeletal assessment: Deformities, joint range of motion, muscle strength, gait observation. Neurological assessment: Monofilament testing (10g Semmes-Weinstein monofilament applied to 10 sites — the gold standard for detecting loss of protective sensation), vibration threshold testing with a tuning fork, and Achilles reflex assessment. Vascular assessment: Palpation of dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses, capillary refill time, and when indicated, ankle-brachial index measurement. Risk stratification: We classify your foot risk (low, moderate, high) and create a personalized care plan accordingly.

What We Do With What We Find

Low-risk findings: annual follow-up, home care guidance. Moderate risk: more frequent monitoring, custom orthotics, therapeutic footwear. High risk: every 1-3 months, aggressive intervention, possible specialist coordination. We don’t alarm — we plan.

Medicare Covers This 100%

Annual diabetic foot exams are a Medicare Part B benefit. Call (810) 206-1402 — we’ll verify your coverage and schedule your exam at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills office.

Professional Podiatric Care in Michigan: Balance Foot & Ankle’s Comprehensive Services

At Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan patients receive comprehensive podiatric care across the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions. Our fellowship-trained podiatrists provide conservative and surgical treatment for all foot and ankle pathology — from plantar fasciitis, bunions, and nail disorders to complex reconstructive surgery, diabetic foot care, and sports injuries. Our clinical approach prioritizes accurate diagnosis, evidence-based treatment selection, and honest communication with patients about realistic outcomes.

We serve patients in Livingston and Oakland counties from two convenient Michigan locations: our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River (serving Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, Howell, and all of Livingston County) and our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 (serving Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, and all of Oakland County). Both offices offer in-office X-ray, same-week new patient appointments, and a full range of diagnostic and treatment services. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Medicare, and most Michigan insurance plans. Call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 to schedule your appointment.

Michigan patients from throughout the region — Livingston County communities including Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, and Fowlerville, and Oakland County communities including Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, and Rochester — can access expert podiatric care at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our clinical team is committed to providing the highest standard of foot and ankle care available in Southeast Michigan, from routine preventive care to complex surgical intervention. Call (810) 206-1402 to schedule — we look forward to serving you at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills location.

Scheduling with Balance Foot & Ankle is straightforward — call (810) 206-1402 during business hours and our front desk team will find an appointment time that works for your schedule, verify your insurance coverage before the visit, and answer any preliminary questions you have about what to expect. Our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River has convenient parking and is easily accessible from I-96, M-59, and Grand River Avenue. Our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 is located on Woodward Avenue with parking adjacent to the building. Both locations are accessible by patients throughout Southeast Michigan, and our team looks forward to providing you with the professional, evidence-based podiatric care that you and your feet deserve.

Related Treatment Guides

• Diabetic Foot Care
• Corn & Callus Treatment
• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Custom 3D Orthotics

Michigan patients are welcome to call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 to learn more about the specific services available at our practice, confirm insurance coverage, or schedule a new patient appointment. Our Howell office serves Livingston County patients with convenient access from the Howell, Brighton, Hartland, and Pinckney communities. Our Bloomfield Hills office serves Oakland County patients with convenient access from the Birmingham, Troy, West Bloomfield, and Farmington Hills communities. Both offices welcome new patients and provide the same high standard of podiatric care that Livingston and Oakland county residents have come to expect from Balance Foot & Ankle.

Medical References & Sources

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

Clinical References

1. Boulton AJM, Armstrong DG, Kirsner RS, et al. Diagnosis and management of diabetic foot complications. Diabetes Care. 2018;41(Suppl 1):S154-S161.
2. Bus SA, Lavery LA, Monteiro-Soares M, et al. Guidelines on the prevention of foot ulcers in persons with diabetes (IWGDF 2019). Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2020;36(S1):e3269.
3. Boulton AJM, Vinik AI, Arezzo JC, et al. Diabetic neuropathies: a statement by the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2005;28(4):956-962.

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.