Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon — Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI. Last updated April 2026.
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Medically Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist, Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists, Michigan. Last updated April 2026.
Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle: Diabetic Foot & Circulation Screening →
The Stakes of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Diabetic foot ulcers represent one of the most serious complications of diabetes. They occur in approximately 15% of diabetic patients during their lifetime and are the primary precursor to the majority of diabetes-related lower extremity amputations. An estimated 85% of amputations in diabetic patients are preceded by a foot ulcer. With proper prevention and early treatment, the majority of these amputations are preventable. At Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell and Bloomfield Township, Michigan, diabetic wound care is a priority service.
Why Diabetic Patients Get Foot Ulcers
The triad of peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, and immune dysfunction creates the perfect conditions for ulceration. Peripheral neuropathy eliminates protective pain sensation — injuries that would be immediately painful and treated in non-diabetic individuals go unnoticed. Peripheral arterial disease reduces blood flow needed for wound healing and infection fighting. Immune dysfunction impairs the body’s ability to contain and eliminate infection once established. A minor injury (ill-fitting shoe, small blister, toenail pressure) that would heal uneventfully in a healthy person can become a limb-threatening wound in a patient with all three factors.
Prevention: The Most Important Strategy
Daily foot inspection (using a mirror for the sole if flexibility is limited) identifies wounds before they progress. Never go barefoot — inside or outside. Wear footwear that fits properly without pressure points. Inspect the inside of shoes for foreign objects before putting them on. Maintain optimal blood sugar control (every 1% reduction in HbA1c reduces complication risk meaningfully). Annual diabetic foot exams at Balance Foot & Ankle identify neuropathy, vascular status, and developing high-pressure areas before ulceration occurs.
Home Wound Care for Minor Ulcers
For a small, superficial wound with intact surrounding skin, no signs of infection, and protected weight-bearing: gentle cleaning with saline or mild soap, appropriate wound dressing to maintain moist healing environment, strict offloading (total contact cast, boot, or surgical shoe depending on location), and immediate podiatric follow-up. Home wound care in diabetic patients should never substitute for professional evaluation — even wounds that appear minor may have underlying deep tissue involvement not visible on the surface.
Emergency Warning Signs: Go Immediately
Go to the ER without delay for: rapidly spreading redness suggesting cellulitis (redness advancing more than 2cm from the wound edge in 24 hours), any wound with foul-smelling drainage, fever with a foot wound, red streaks extending from the wound (ascending infection), black or gray wound edges suggesting gangrene, the wound reaching bone (osteomyelitis must be excluded), or any foot wound associated with rapidly worsening pain (or paradoxically, sudden loss of pain in a previously painful wound — which can indicate advancing necrosis). Contact Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 for urgent or routine diabetic wound evaluation — we provide prompt appointments for wound care concerns.
Foot or Ankle Pain? We Can Help.
Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI
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📞 (810) 206-1402
When to See a Podiatrist for Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention
Preventing diabetic foot ulcers is far more effective than treating them. At Balance Foot & Ankle, Dr. Tom Biernacki provides comprehensive diabetic foot prevention programs including risk stratification, therapeutic footwear, regular monitoring, and patient education to keep your feet healthy and intact.
Learn About Our Diabetic Foot Care Program | Book Your Appointment | Call (810) 206-1402
Clinical References
- Armstrong DG, Boulton AJ, Bus SA. Diabetic foot ulcers and their recurrence. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(24):2367-2375.
- Bus SA, Lavery LA, Monteiro-Soares M, et al. Guidelines on the prevention of foot ulcers in persons with diabetes (IWGDF 2019 update). Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2020;36(Suppl 1):e3269.
- Singh N, Armstrong DG, Lipsky BA. Preventing foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. JAMA. 2005;293(2):217-228.
Insurance Accepted
BCBS · Medicare · Aetna · Cigna · United Healthcare · HAP · Priority Health · Humana · View All →
Howell Office
3980 E Grand River Ave, Suite 140
Howell, MI 48843
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Bloomfield Hills Office
43700 Woodward Ave, Suite 207
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
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Your Board-Certified Podiatrists
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Same-week appointments available at both locations.
Book Your AppointmentIn Our Clinic
Diabetic neuropathy patients in our clinic often don’t realize they have it until we put a 10-gram Semmes-Weinstein monofilament to the plantar foot and they can’t feel it. Many arrive for an unrelated concern — an ingrown toenail, a callus — and we catch the neuropathy on screening. The conversation then shifts: we need to discuss daily foot inspections, appropriate footwear, the urgency of any blister or open area, and the timing of vascular referral if pulses are diminished. Comprehensive diabetic foot exams are covered by Medicare annually. If you have diabetes, we want to see you once a year even if nothing hurts.
More Podiatrist-Recommended Diabetic Essentials
Diabetic-Approved Walking Shoe
- Tie-Less Lacing System eliminates the need to tie laces. Heel strap enables to adjust the grip around the heel. Cushioning sole with a mild Rocker adds spring to your step. Soft, padded fabric interior with no overlays eliminates irritation.
Orthofeet Sprint — seamless, extra-depth, designed for neuropathic feet.
Seamless Diabetic Sock
- Provides continuous support of the Plantar Fascia by gently stretching the fascia tissue.
- Compression zones promote circulation, reduce impact vibration, boost recovery and strengthen feet.
- Lightweight, seamless design with extra cushioning provides support while still being comfortable.
- Supports the heel/arch and overall foot structure while stabilizing the tendon for better performance
- Made from high quality materials, the socks are moisture wicking and breathable.
OS1st FS4 — non-binding, moisture-wicking, protects fragile diabetic skin.
Recovery Slide for Indoor Wear
- Model ID: 1135061-BTRT
HOKA Ora 3 — protects diabetic feet from barefoot injury at home.
As an Amazon Associate, Balance Foot & Ankle earns from qualifying purchases. Product recommendations are based on clinical experience; prices and availability shown above update live from Amazon.
When to See a Podiatrist
One unnoticed blister on a neuropathic foot can become a limb-threatening ulcer in under 14 days. Medicare covers diabetic shoes (A5500) and comprehensive foot exams annually for most diabetic patients with neuropathy or circulation concerns. Balance Foot & Ankle runs a dedicated diabetic limb-preservation program — vascular screening, offloading, ulcer care, and shoe fitting — all in one visit. Schedule your annual diabetic foot exam today.
Call Balance Foot & Ankle: (810) 206-1402 · Book online · Offices in Howell & Bloomfield Hills
In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle
When conservative care isn’t enough, Dr. Tom Biernacki and the team at Balance Foot & Ankle offer advanced, same-day options — including Diabetic Foot Care Michigan at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills clinics.
Same-day appointments available. Call (810) 206-1402 or book online.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a podiatrist help with neuropathy?
What does neuropathy in feet feel like?
Is foot neuropathy reversible?
- Plantar Fasciitis: Diagnosis and Conservative Management (PubMed)
- Plantar Fasciitis (APMA)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis (PubMed / AAFP)
- Heel Pain (APMA)
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