Diabetic Foot Exam
Reviewed
Also called: Diabetic Foot Exam, Comprehensive Foot Exam
A diabetic foot exam checks for signs of certain foot health problems that can lead to serious infection and amputation.
Specimen: Not applicable
Urgent safety information
Aside from routine checkups, you should contact your provider to schedule a foot exam right away if you have: A blister, cut, bruise, or other foot injury that doesn't start to heal after a few days. Skin on your foot that is red, warm, or painful. A callus with dried blood inside it. A foot infection that becomes black and smelly. This may be a sign of gangrene.
Why this test may be ordered
- Routine screening for foot problems in people with diabetes.
- More frequent follow-up if you have had previous foot ulcers, neuropathy, or poor circulation.
- If you have symptoms such as blisters, cuts, redness, warmth, pain, callus with dried blood, or black/smelly infection.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for a diabetic foot exam.
Your provider may check your shoes for proper fit and ask questions about your other footwear. You will close your eyes while your provider brushes a soft strand of nylon (a monofilament) over your foot and toes. Your provider will place a tuning fork or other device that vibrates on different parts of your foot and toes to see if you can feel the vibrations.
There are no known risks to having a diabetic foot exam.
Understanding results
Your provider will use the results of your exam to estimate your risk of developing foot ulcers and infections that could lead to amputation.
- Higher risk of foot ulcers: Your provider will use the results of your exam to estimate your risk of developing foot ulcers and infections that could lead to amputation. Limitation: People with diabetes have a high risk for many types of foot health problems. Next step: If your risk is high, your provider will probably recommend that you have a complete diabetic foot exam more than once a year.
- Ankle blood pressure lower than arm (reduced blood flow): If blood pressure in your ankle is lower than in your arm, you may have reduced blood flow to your foot. Limitation: Smoking can cause decreased blood flow to the feet, causing wounds to heal more slowly. Next step: If a problem is found that needs medical care, your treatment will depend on the type of problem and how serious it is.
- Reduced feeling in the feet: Nerve damage from diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. It can make your feet feel numb or tingly. Limitation: If you don't feel pain in your feet, you're more likely to not notice common foot wounds. Next step: If you have questions about your diabetic foot exam, ask your provider.
- The exam estimates your risk of developing foot ulcers and infections; it does not replace daily foot self-checks.
- Nerve damage can make it harder to notice common foot wounds, so problems can be missed between exams.
What to do next
Your provider may review what steps you can take to keep your feet healthy. If you have questions about your diabetic foot exam, ask your provider.
- What does my risk estimate mean for my foot health?
- How often should I have a complete foot exam?
- What specific foot care steps should I take based on my results?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.