If you suffer from diabetes, your doctor may have already advised you to have a diabetic foot assessment administered by a podiatrist. The increased amount of glucose in your bloodstream may be affecting the blood and nerve supply to your feet. You may notice a change or loss of sensation in your feet, coupled with a poorer and slower healing ability. This can become extremely dangerous when left untreated.

This is where podiatrists step in. They are professionally trained to perform extensive foot examinations, ensuring that your feet stay in the best condition possible, as well as preventing any further complications.

Vascular Assessment

Though it’s not often talked about, the blood supply to your feet is very important and unfortunately, it can be hugely compromised in those suffering from diabetes. To determine if there is any damage to the foot, podiatrists will first perform a visual assessment of the skin to check for any symptoms. This may include changes in skin colour, temperature, and overall appearance.

You’ll also be checked for any venous insufficiencies, which refers to any possible issues with taking the blood back to the heart. Next, the podiatrist will check for the two main pulses in the feet. One sits on the top of the foot approximately between the first and second toes, while the other is located behind the ankle.

Characteristics of these pulses will be checked (if they are strong, weak, irregular, etc.). Once the pulses have been assessed, a doppler ultrasound will then be used to further look into the blood flow going through the arteries. 

Neurological Assessment

During this part of the assessment, you will be asked some questions relating to the sensation you feel in your feet. This may be feelings of numbness or tingling, pins and needles, burning sensations, or general hypersensitivity. 

The first test that will be performed is called the monofilament test, in which the podiatrist uses a device to apply 10 grams of pressure onto different parts of your feet. You will be made to close your eyes and indicate whenever you feel the monofilament.

Next, vibration testing will be done to test the sensation. A neurothesiometer is placed onto four different spots on your feet, with the readings coming out in volts. Again, you will be asked to close your eyes and tell the doctor whenever you feel the vibrating sensation.

The combination of these two tests allows the podiatrist to determine the neurological condition of your feet.

Dermatological Assessment 

This last step involves a very thorough assessment of your skin to identify any potential areas of concern that may need to be addressed. The skin is the largest organ of the body and it requires adequate blood supply to keep its health. 

The podiatrist will check for any corns, calluses, warts, or lesions that may need to be treated or removed. Your nails will also be assessed to check for possible fungal infections, ingrown nails, or irregular conditions such as nails that are too long or too short. Patients whose sensations are impaired may not be able to feel these problems on their feet, which can be incredibly problematic.

Any damage to the integrity of your skin, along with an afflicted healing ability, may lead to more wounds that will be extremely hard to heal. While checking the condition of the skin and nails, any bone abnormalities will also be checked out. This refers to bunions, hammer toes, and other prominences that may be affecting your foot function. Often, pressure can build up in areas that weren’t designed to handle the impact. The overlying skin may be affected, which may lead to more serious problems when not tended to right away.