Living with diabetes means paying closer attention to parts of the body other people may take for granted, especially your feet. Over time, high blood sugar can affect circulation, nerve health, and skin integrity, making diabetic foot care an essential part of your health routine. At Wilks Advanced Foot Care, we offer comprehensive diabetic foot exams designed to detect problems early before they become dangerous.
With a helpful and compassionate approach, Dr. Jason Wilks and his team provide the informative care you need to stay confident and in control of your health, one step at a time.
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Why Are Regular Diabetic Foot Exams So Important?
Diabetes can quietly damage your feet long before you notice any symptoms. Over time, elevated blood sugar narrows and stiffens blood vessels, reducing circulation to your lower limbs. This slowed blood flow makes it harder for small cuts, blisters, and other foot wounds to heal properly.
At the same time, condition-related nerve damage—also known as peripheral neuropathy—dulls your ability to feel pain, pressure, or temperature, so you might not even realize there’s a problem. Add in dry skin, altered foot structure, or poorly fitting shoes, and the risk of infection or injury grows fast.
So a comprehensive foot exam by a podiatrist who specializes in diabetic foot care isn’t just routine: it’s preventive medicine. Our professional evaluation puts your mind at ease by:
- Spotting skin changes early. This includes redness, calluses, cracks, or pressure areas before they become open wounds.
- Assessing circulation. Good circulation is essential for healing, and poor blood flow increases the risk of complications.
- Testing nerve function. Early detection of numbness or sensory loss prevents undetected injuries and guides treatment to slow further damage.
- Reviewing foot structure. Identifying deformities, bunions, or pressure points helps reduce strain and prevent ulcers in high-risk areas.
With routine diabetic foot exams, you get far more than a checkup—you get early warning, targeted prevention, and unwavering support for long-term foot health.
What to Expect During Your Detailed Examination
It starts with a conversation. We’re not just treating symptoms: we want to know what’s important in your life, how active you are, and what’s working with your diabetes management.
Then, Dr. Wilks visually inspects your feet, including the top, bottom, between the toes, and around the heels. He’s looking for signs of:
- Skin irritation or breakdown.
- Redness, swelling, or other symptoms of infection.
- Thickened nails or fungal nail changes.
- Ingrown toenails.
- Corns, calluses, or foot deformities.
- Early indications of ulcers or pressure injuries.
For the circulation check, he’ll feel the pulses in your feet and may use a small Doppler device to listen to blood flow. To evaluate nerve function, he may use tools such as a soft plastic filament, monofilament, tuning fork, or vibration tester to assess your sense of touch and temperature sensitivity. This helps determine if neuropathy is present and how advanced it might be.
How Does Footwear Factor Into Your Care?
Shoes matter more than many people think, especially when you have diabetes. Ill-fitting footwear often causes friction, pressure points, or even small injuries that go unnoticed if nerve sensation is reduced. So when you come to your appointment, also have the footwear you wear most so we can examine them for:
- Fit and support.
- Areas that may cause pressure or rubbing.
- Insoles that need replacement.
- Unusual wear patterns on the soles.
Dr. Wilks may offer recommendations for diabetic-safe shoes or custom orthotics to better protect your feet on a daily basis.
How Often Should You Have a Comprehensive Diabetic Foot Exam?
It depends. Most people with diabetes visit a podiatrist at least once per year. However, if you have Type 1 diabetes, a history of foot ulcers, neuropathy, or poor circulation, it might be advantageous to have a regular exam every 3–6 months. This provides a more solid baseline to identify future changes and allows our team to act quickly if there’s an issue.
Now, if you notice any of the following symptoms during your daily foot checks, make an appointment in our Roseburg office right away:
- Losing the ability to feel hot or cold.
- Change in the temperature of your feet.
- Losing hair anywhere from the lower legs down.
- Any type of sore, blister, or ingrown toenail.
- Persistent athlete’s foot.
- Changes in skin color
- Cracked or dry skin that doesn’t respond to moisturizer.
With consistent exams and simple preventive care, most serious diabetic foot issues can be avoided. At Wilks Advanced Foot Care, patients throughout Douglas County get clear guidance, supportive care, and real peace of mind.
