Diabetic Foot Care in Chicago, IL
Diabetes can silently damage the nerves and blood vessels in your feet — often before symptoms appear. Our experienced podiatrists provide comprehensive diabetic foot exams, neuropathy assessments, wound care, and prevention strategies to help you stay active and avoid serious complications.
Americans With Diabetes
Develop a Foot Ulcer
Amputations Follow Ulcer
Chicagoland Locations
Understanding Diabetic Foot Disease
Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputation in the United States. Yet the vast majority of these amputations are preventable with proper podiatric care, early detection, and consistent monitoring by a knowledgeable podiatrist.
Peripheral neuropathy — nerve damage caused by high blood sugar — affects up to 50% of people with diabetes. It can cause numbness or tingling in the feet, meaning small cuts, blisters, or pressure sores go unnoticed and can escalate quickly into dangerous infections.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is also more common in people with diabetes. Reduced blood flow to the feet slows healing and raises the risk that even a minor wound becomes a serious ulcer — or worse, leads to infection that threatens the limb.
Comprehensive Care for Diabetic Patients
From your first annual exam to advanced wound care, our podiatrists provide every level of diabetic foot care your condition requires — under one roof, at four convenient Chicagoland locations.
Annual Diabetic Foot Exam
A thorough ADA-recommended evaluation covering skin integrity, structural deformities, footwear assessment, circulation status, and sensation testing. Covered by Medicare and most insurance plans.
Neuropathy Assessment
We use monofilament testing, vibration perception thresholds, and ankle-reflex assessment to quantify nerve damage and identify patients at elevated risk for ulceration and injury.
Wound Care & Ulcer Management
Expert diabetic wound care in Chicago using evidence-based protocols: debridement, offloading, advanced wound dressings, and infection management — coordinated with your primary care team and vascular specialists as needed.
Diabetic Custom Orthotics
Custom-fabricated custom orthoses and diabetic therapeutic footwear designed to redistribute pressure, protect vulnerable areas, and reduce the likelihood of skin breakdown and ulceration.
Vascular Assessment
Ankle-brachial index (ABI) testing and clinical evaluation of arterial pulses to screen for peripheral arterial disease. Early detection of poor circulation allows timely referral for vascular intervention before wound healing is compromised.
Preventive Nail & Skin Care
Professional nail trimming, callus debridement, and treatment of ingrown toenails by specialists who understand how these “minor” issues can become limb-threatening infections in diabetic patients.
Warning Signs — Don’t Wait to Call
Because neuropathy can mask pain, diabetic patients must watch for visual and tactile warning signs. Contact our office the same day you notice any of the following.
Open Sores or Wounds
Any break in the skin on your foot or ankle that is not healing within a few days requires immediate professional evaluation. Infected diabetic wounds can progress rapidly.
Numbness or Loss of Sensation
New-onset numbness, tingling, burning, or a “dead” feeling in the feet or toes may indicate progressing neuropathy. Don’t dismiss it — schedule an assessment.
Unusual Color Changes
Redness, bluish or purplish discoloration, or a pale/white appearance in the foot can indicate infection, pressure damage, or dangerously compromised circulation.
Temperature Differences Between Feet
One foot noticeably hotter than the other may signal Charcot foot — a serious structural collapse. One foot cooler than the other can indicate arterial blockage.
Swelling, Drainage, or Odor
Pus, foul odor, or swelling around a wound are signs of active infection. This is a medical emergency — seek care immediately, or go to an emergency room if our office is closed.
Blisters, Calluses, or Corns
While common in the general population, blisters and calluses are precursors to ulcers in diabetic patients. Never pop blisters or cut calluses yourself — call us first.
Why Preventive Care Saves Limbs
Diabetic foot complications don’t announce themselves — they develop quietly, then escalate fast. A single annual exam with our team could be the decision that prevents an ulcer, an infection, or an amputation.
- Up to 50% of diabetics develop peripheral neuropathy during their lifetime
- Diabetics face 2× higher risk of peripheral arterial disease compared to non-diabetics
- Preventive podiatric care reduces amputation risk by up to 45%
- The ADA recommends a minimum of one comprehensive foot exam per year
- Medicare Part B covers one diabetic foot exam per year at no cost-sharing
Develop Neuropathy
Amputation Risk Reduced
ADA Recommended Exam
Chicago Locations
Medicare & Insurance for Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetic foot care is considered medically necessary — and most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover it. We work with patients to maximize their benefits.
Annual Diabetic Foot Exam
Medicare Part B covers one comprehensive diabetic foot exam per year for patients with diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy, at no cost-sharing when requirements are met.
Therapeutic Shoes & Inserts
Medicare also covers therapeutic diabetic shoes and custom inserts for qualifying patients — up to one pair of depth-inlay shoes and three pairs of inserts per calendar year.
Medicaid Coverage
Medicaid (Illinois) covers medically necessary podiatric services for diabetic patients, including wound care and nail care.
Commercial Plans
Most private insurance plans include diabetic foot care as a covered benefit. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Humana, and more. We verify your coverage before your visit.
Diabetic Foot Care Near You
With offices in Downtown Chicago, Elmhurst, Flossmoor, and Tinley Park, expert podiatric diabetes care is never far away.
Michigan Avenue — Chicago
30 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1220, Chicago, IL 60602
Mon–Fri 8am–5pm
Elmhurst, IL
277 N York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Flossmoor, IL
19801 Governors Hwy #150, Flossmoor, IL 60422
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Tinley Park, IL
6703 W 159th St Suite 107, Tinley Park, IL 60477
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about diabetic foot care at Michigan Avenue Podiatry.
Protect Your Feet. Protect Your Future.
Diabetic foot complications don’t announce themselves — they develop quietly, then escalate fast. A single annual exam with our team could be the decision that prevents an ulcer, an infection, or an amputation. Our Chicago-area podiatrists are ready to partner with you.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammad Usman, D.P.M. — Podiatric Physician & Foot & Ankle Surgeon. Featured in Forbes, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Bustle, and Medscape.