Quick answer: Most diabetes-related amputations begin with a foot wound that went unnoticed, because neuropathy made it painless. Checking your feet every day, never going barefoot, and having any new wound seen within 24 hours are the habits that break that chain. Call (810) 206-1402.
Your daily foot check: a practical guide
If you have diabetes, one of the most useful things you can do to protect your feet takes about two minutes a day. Its purpose is to catch a problem before it becomes a wound — because with neuropathy, you may not feel one forming.
Every day
- Look at both feet, including the soles and between the toes. Use a mirror, or ask someone to look. You are checking for redness, blisters, cuts, cracks in the skin, corns or calluses (especially with blood or a dark spot underneath), swelling, warmth, changes in the nails, or any color change — not waiting for pain.
- Wash your feet in lukewarm water and dry carefully, especially between the toes. Test the water with your elbow or a thermometer, never your foot or hand. Do not soak your feet.
- Moisturize dry skin on the tops and soles, but not between the toes.
- Check inside your shoes with your hand before putting them on.
- Wear socks and shoes, indoors too. Never go barefoot, in socks alone, or in thin-soled slippers. If you have had a foot ulcer before, wearing the footwear prescribed for you, indoors and out, is essential.
- Trim toenails straight across and file sharp edges — or have us do it if you have numbness, poor eyesight, or thick or ingrown nails.
Never
- Cut corns, calluses or ingrown toenails yourself, or use medicated corn pads or liquid removers — the acid causes wounds on numb feet.
- Use heating pads or hot water bottles on your feet. You will not feel a burn until it is a wound.
- Ignore a small blister or cut because it does not hurt.
Call us the same day if you notice
- Any open wound, blister, cut or crack in the skin — even a small one, and even if it does not hurt
- New redness, swelling or warmth, with or without pain
- Drainage, a smell, blood or a dark spot under a callus, or a change in color of the skin or a toe
Until you are seen, clean it gently, cover it with a clean dry dressing and keep weight off it. If you cannot reach us or be seen the same day, go to urgent care or an emergency department rather than waiting.
Go to an emergency department straight away for fever, chills or feeling generally unwell with a foot problem (blood sugars suddenly much higher than usual can be another sign), redness that is spreading, black or gray tissue, a foot that is suddenly red, hot and swollen, or a foot or toe that suddenly turns cold, pale or blue, with or without pain — that last one can mean a blocked artery, so call 911 if you cannot get there quickly. An infected diabetic foot often has no fever and little pain — their absence does not mean it is safe.
How often to have your feet examined
Roughly once a year with no neuropathy or circulation problems; every six to twelve months if either is present; every three to six months if you have both, or either one together with a foot deformity; and every one to three months if you have ever had an ulcer or amputation, or have kidney failure (including dialysis).
For more depth: what actually prevents amputation · diabetic wound care · living with neuropathy
In 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
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist, Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists, Michigan. Last updated April 2026.
Diabetic-Approved Walking Shoe
Orthofeet Sprint — seamless, extra-depth, designed for neuropathic feet.
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Watch: Diabetes Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment [Diabetic Nerve Pain Remedy] — MichiganFootDoctors YouTube
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.
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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
When conservative care isn’t enough, Dr. Tom Biernacki and the team at Balance Foot & Ankle offer advanced treatment options — including Diabetic Foot Care Michigan at our Howell and Bloomfield Township clinics.
Book online 24/7. Call (810) 206-1402 or book online.
In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle
If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your diabetic foot, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with expert evaluations and advanced in-office care.
Book online 24/7. (810) 206-1402
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Arnica gel plus 15 plant compounds for sore feet, plantar fasciitis flares and post-activity soreness. Apply a thin layer to the sore area.
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Appointments at our Howell and Bloomfield Township offices. Board-certified podiatric surgeons. Most insurance accepted.
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.
More questions patients ask
How often should diabetics check their feet?
Diabetic patients should perform daily self-examinations of both feet, checking for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, calluses, and temperature changes. Professional diabetic foot exams should occur at least annually, or every 3-6 months for patients with neuropathy, peripheral artery disease, or history of foot ulcers. Dr. Biernacki provides comprehensive diabetic foot care programs.
Why do diabetics have foot problems?
Diabetes causes peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage reducing sensation), peripheral artery disease (reduced blood flow), and impaired immune function. This combination means injuries go unnoticed, heal slowly, and are prone to infection. Approximately 15% of diabetics will develop a foot ulcer, and diabetic foot complications are the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation. Prevention through regular podiatric care is essential.
What are the signs of diabetic neuropathy in feet?
Early signs include tingling, burning, or numbness starting in the toes and progressing upward. Other symptoms include sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness, balance problems, and loss of reflexes. If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Biernacki at 810-206-1402 for nerve conduction testing and a comprehensive neuropathy management plan.
Still have a question about coverage or cost? Book online and we will check your benefits before your visit: Book in Howell · Book in Bloomfield Township. Prefer to talk it through first? Call (810) 206-1402.