Endocrinologist + Podiatrist for Michigan Diabetics| DPM

Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS

Board-certified foot & ankle surgeon · Balance Foot & Ankle · (810) 206-1402

Last reviewed: May 2026

Quick answer: Diabetes care works best when the endocrinologist and the podiatrist are looking at the same patient. A1c control and foot risk are connected, but they are managed with different tools — and the foot exam is what catches the problem your labs cannot show. Book online, or call (810) 206-1402.

Related Conditions

Endocrinologist & Podiatrist: Why Diabetics Need Both — Michigan’s Coordinated Approach

Complete Diabetic Care Requires Two Specialists

An endocrinologist optimizes your blood sugar. A podiatrist protects your feet. Together, they form the complete diabetic care team — but most diabetic patients only have one or the other. At Balance Foot & Ankle, we’ve built the partnerships that make true coordinated care possible across Michigan.

The Grunberger Partnership — Bloomfield Township

Our Bloomfield Township office is located in the same building as the Grunberger Diabetes Institute at 43494 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Township. Dr. George Grunberger is internationally recognized as a leading diabetes management authority. Our proximity creates a seamless care pathway — endocrinological management and podiatric foot protection in the same building visit.

The Vassallo Partnership — Howell

Our Howell office is minutes from Vassallo Medical Group on the same Grand River Ave corridor. Dr. John Vassallo, MD, manages diabetes, hypertension, and vascular health for Livingston County patients while we monitor and protect their feet.

What We Provide That Endocrinologists Don’t

Annual diabetic foot exams with vascular and neurological assessment, neuropathy screening and documentation, diabetic shoe fitting (Medicare-covered), wound care and ulcer prevention, medical nail care with sterile instruments, custom 3D-printed orthotics for pressure redistribution, and REMY laser + EMTT for diabetic neuropathic pain.

Ask Your Endocrinologist About Referring You

If you’re a diabetic patient of Grunberger, Vassallo, or any other Michigan endocrinologist or internist — ask them about referring you to Balance Foot & Ankle. You deserve both halves of complete diabetic care.

Call (810) 206-1402. Offices in Howell (Livingston County) and Bloomfield Township (Oakland County).

Endocrinologist and Podiatrist for Diabetic Patients: Coordinated Care in Michigan

For Michigan diabetic patients seeing an endocrinologist, adding a podiatrist to the care team creates a complementary clinical partnership that addresses the foot complications that diabetes management alone cannot prevent. The endocrinologist manages the metabolic underpinnings of diabetes — insulin regimen, GLP-1 agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, thyroid function, and the tight glycemic control that slows neuropathy and vascular disease progression. The podiatrist manages the foot and ankle sequelae that develop despite good metabolic control — peripheral neuropathy with loss of protective sensation, peripheral arterial disease affecting wound healing, nail and skin conditions that create wound entry points, and the biomechanical factors that determine where pressure loading concentrates on the foot. Together, endocrinology and podiatry form the most complete diabetic foot care team available to Michigan patients.

Balance Foot & Ankle communicates directly with patients’ endocrinologists when findings at the annual diabetic foot exam are relevant to glycemic management or vascular risk — including new peripheral neuropathy progression, ABI findings suggesting peripheral arterial disease, and preulcerative changes that indicate the patient’s foot protection behaviors need reinforcement. Michigan endocrinology practices who refer diabetic patients to our Howell or Bloomfield Township offices for annual foot examinations receive timely written reports of clinical findings to integrate into their ongoing metabolic management. Diabetic patients who see an endocrinologist but have not established podiatric care should ask their endocrinologist for a podiatric referral, or call Balance Foot & Ankle directly at (810) 206-1402 to schedule an annual diabetic foot examination.

Michigan patients with systemic conditions affecting their feet deserve coordinated care that addresses both the underlying disease and its foot manifestations. Balance Foot & Ankle works collaboratively with endocrinologists, cardiologists, rheumatologists, neurologists, and primary care physicians throughout Livingston and Oakland counties to provide podiatric care that integrates with the patient’s overall treatment plan. When a systemic disease is driving foot complications, managing the foot without optimizing the underlying disease — and managing the underlying disease without addressing the foot complications it produces — produces inferior outcomes. Call us at (810) 206-1402 to schedule a hands-on exam plus imaging when needed at our Howell or Bloomfield Township office, and bring your list of current physicians so we can coordinate your care appropriately.

Related Treatment Guides

• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Custom 3D Orthotics
• Sports Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment
• Bunion Treatment

Same-week appointments are available at our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River and our Bloomfield Township office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 for Michigan patients with foot conditions related to systemic health issues. Our clinical team is experienced working alongside specialists in endocrinology, cardiology, rheumatology, and neurology to provide podiatric care that integrates with the patient’s complete treatment plan. Call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 to schedule your evaluation today.

Medical References & Sources

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

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

More Podiatrist-Recommended Diabetic Essentials

Diabetic-Approved Walking Shoe

Orthofeet Sprint — seamless, extra-depth, designed for neuropathic feet.

Seamless Diabetic Sock

Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS

Board-certified foot & ankle surgeon · 3,000+ surgeries · @MichiganFootDoctors (950K+ subscribers)

Last reviewed May 9, 2026 · (810) 206-1402

View on Amazon →

OS1st FS4 — non-binding, moisture-wicking, protects fragile diabetic skin.

Recovery Slide for Indoor Wear

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 Township

In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle

If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your diabetic foot conditions, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with same-week evaluations and advanced in-office care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is diabetic foot care so important?

Diabetes causes two problems that make foot wounds dangerous: peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage reducing sensation) and peripheral arterial disease (reduced blood flow impairing healing). A small blister or cut that a non-diabetic person would notice and treat can go undetected in a diabetic patient for days, become infected, and progress to osteomyelitis. Diabetic foot ulcers are the leading cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputations. A consistent foot care routine and regular podiatry visits prevent most amputations.

How often should diabetic patients see a podiatrist?

Patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy should see a podiatrist every 2–3 months for routine nail care and foot inspection. Patients with active foot complications (ulcers, Charcot foot, severe PAD) need more frequent visits — often every 2–4 weeks until stable. Even well-controlled diabetics without neuropathy benefit from annual foot exams. Many amputations we see in consultation could have been prevented with earlier, consistent podiatric care.

What is diabetic peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage from chronically elevated blood sugar, causing numbness, tingling, burning, or loss of sensation — typically starting in the toes and progressing upward in a ‘stocking’ distribution. The dangerous aspect isn’t the pain — it’s the absence of pain. Patients with severe neuropathy don’t feel blisters, cuts, pressure sores, or early infections. A wound can reach bone before it’s noticed. Neuropathy screening with a 10-gram monofilament is part of every diabetic foot exam.

What are the warning signs of a diabetic foot problem?

Seek same-day evaluation for: any open wound or blister that isn’t healing within 1–2 weeks, redness, warmth, or swelling in any part of the foot (possible Charcot fracture or infection), a new blister or callus, any red streaking or warmth spreading up the leg (cellulitis), foot or ankle pain in a diabetic patient with neuropathy (could be Charcot without pain). Don’t wait to see if it improves — diabetic foot infections are medical emergencies.

What is the best foot cream for diabetic feet?

The goal of diabetic foot cream is restoring the skin’s moisture barrier to prevent fissuring and cracking — the entry points for infection. Look for urea-based creams (10–25% urea) or lactic acid formulations that actually penetrate thickened skin rather than sitting on the surface. AmLactin 12%, Eucerin Diabetics’ Dry Skin Relief, and Gold Bond Diabetics’ Dry Skin Relief are clinical-grade options. Avoid cream between the toes — moisture retention between toes promotes maceration and fungal infection.

Can diabetic patients get foot massages?

Light massage is generally safe for diabetic patients without active wounds, severe edema, or PAD. However, deep tissue massage or vigorous rubbing should be avoided — with neuropathy, patients can’t feel if tissue is being damaged. Foot massagers with rollers or intense vibration should be avoided entirely. If you enjoy foot massage, use gentle, light strokes with a diabetic-appropriate foot cream. Let your podiatrist know if you’re incorporating massage into your routine — we can advise based on your circulation status.

What type of socks should diabetic patients wear?

Diabetic socks: seamless (seams can create pressure sores over a neuropathic foot), non-binding at the top (circulation-restrictive socks worsen PAD), moisture-wicking (polyester/wool blend reduces bacterial environment), padded sole (cushions bony prominences). Avoid cotton socks for active patients — cotton retains moisture. Never wear socks with elastic bands that leave marks on the leg. Brands specifically designed for diabetic feet: Thorlos, Wigwam, and most major medical supply brands.

Should diabetic patients cut their own toenails?

It depends on neuropathy severity and vision. Patients with mild neuropathy and good vision can safely trim nails straight across without cutting the corners. Patients with moderate-to-severe neuropathy, poor vision, or thick nails should not self-trim — the risk of cutting the surrounding skin (which they may not feel) is too high. This is exactly what podiatry nail care visits are for. Medicare and most insurance plans cover routine foot care for diabetic patients with documented neuropathy.

What is Charcot foot and how serious is it?

Charcot neuroarthropathy is a serious diabetic complication where neuropathy allows repeated micro-fractures to occur without pain, leading to progressive bone and joint destruction and foot deformity. The classic presentation: a warm, swollen, red foot in a diabetic patient — often mistaken for cellulitis. Early Charcot (caught within weeks of onset) can be managed with a total contact cast to prevent further collapse. Late Charcot with significant arch destruction often requires reconstructive surgery. Missing the diagnosis is catastrophic — a single patient with missed Charcot can progress to a rocker-bottom deformity requiring amputation.

Does insurance cover diabetic foot care?

Medicare Part B covers routine foot care (nail trimming, callus debridement) for diabetic patients with documented peripheral neuropathy — one visit every 2 months. Most PPO and HMO plans follow similar coverage rules. Diabetic shoes and insoles are covered under Medicare’s Therapeutic Shoe Bill (one pair of shoes plus three pairs of custom insoles per year). Call us at (810) 206-1402 and we’ll verify your specific coverage before your first appointment.

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified foot & ankle surgeon (ABFAS & ABPM) 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 made him one of the most-followed foot & ankle educators on YouTube.