What happens during a diabetic foot exam?A diabetic foot exam may be done by your primary care provider and/or a foot doctor, known as a podiatrist. A foot doctor specializes in keeping feet healthy and treating diseases of the feet. The exam usually includes the following:General assessment. Your provider will:Ask questions about your health history and any previous problems you've had with your feet.Check your shoes for proper fit and ask questions about your other footwear. Shoes that don't fit well or are otherwise uncomfortable can lead to blisters, calluses, and ulcers.Dermatological assessment. Your provider will:Look for various skin problems, including dryness, cracking, calluses, blisters, and ulcers.Check the toenails for cracks or fungal infection.Check between the toes for signs of a fungal infection.Neurologic assessments. These are a series of tests that include:Monofilament test. Your provider will brush a soft nylon fiber called a monofilament over your foot and toes to test your foot's sensitivity to touch.Tuning fork and visual perception tests (VPT). Your provider will place a tuning fork or other device against your foot and toes to see if you can feel the vibration it produces.Pinprick test. Your provider will gently poke the bottom of your foot with a small pin to see if you can feel it.Ankle reflexes. Your provider will check your ankle reflexes by tapping on your foot with a small mallet. This is similar to a test you may get at an annual physical, in which your provider taps just below your knee to check your reflexes.Musculoskeletal assessment. Your provider will:Look for abnormalities in the shape and structure of your foot.Vascular assessment. If you have symptoms of poor circulation, your provider may:Use a type of imaging technology called Doppler ultrasound to see how well blood is flowing in your foot.
