Service
Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetes can change what is happening inside the feet long before anything looks or feels wrong, which is why steady, preventive foot care matters so much. Reduced sensation, slower healing, and changes in circulation can let a small problem grow before it is noticed. Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists provides diabetic foot care at its Elk Grove Village office in Suite 3004 of the Brock Medical Building, on the Ascension Alexian Brothers Medical Center campus at 800 Biesterfield Road, with the same care available at the Elgin,Huntley, and Montclare, Chicago offices. Board-certified podiatrists Craig Halihan, DPM, Haris Khan, DPM, and Matthew Krouse, DPM focus on early detection, prevention, and personalized treatment for nerve changes, circulation concerns, wounds, nails, and pressure points.
Reserve Your Elk Grove Village Consultation | Call (847) 352-0200
Diabetic foot care starts with understanding how diabetes reaches the feet in the first place. Over time, higher blood sugar can affect the nerves and the blood vessels in the lower legs and feet, which changes two things at once. Nerve changes can reduce how well the feet feel pressure, heat, cold, or injury, so a cut, blister, or pressure point may not be noticed right away. Reduced circulation can make it harder for the skin and deeper tissue to heal once something does go wrong. Slower healing and a higher chance of infection are why a minor problem on a diabetic foot deserves earlier attention than it might on someone without diabetes.
Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists provides preventive diabetic foot care, routine foot evaluations, and personalized treatment for diabetes-related foot problems at offices in Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Huntley, and the Montclare neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The patients seen for diabetic foot care tend to fall into a few groups. Some feel fine and want routine monitoring to stay ahead of problems, some have new numbness or tingling they want checked, and others already have a callus, sore, or slow-healing wound that needs professional care. Each starts with a focused exam of sensation, circulation, skin, nails, and pressure points, followed by a plan matched to that person's risk rather than a single default routine.
Two of the biggest reasons diabetes affects the feet are nerve changes and reduced blood flow, and they cause different problems. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that can build up over time. It may cause numbness, tingling, burning sensations, sharp or shooting pain, increased sensitivity, or a reduced ability to feel heat, cold, pressure, or injury. When sensation drops, a small wound or pressure area can worsen before a person realizes anything is wrong.
Poor circulation is a separate issue. Reduced blood flow can make it harder for damaged skin and soft tissue to heal, increasing the risk that a cut, blister, ingrown toenail, or pressure sore will worsen. The simplest way to keep the two apart is this: neuropathy can make an injury harder to feel, while poor circulation can make it harder to heal. Together, these problems can allow a diabetic foot condition to progress even when the original injury looks small. New numbness, burning, balance changes, or loss of sensation should be reported, without assuming that every symptom is caused by diabetes.
Certain changes in the feet are worth having a podiatrist look at, especially for someone with diabetes. These include new numbness, tingling, or burning; persistent foot pain; changes in skin color or temperature; swelling; redness or warmth; cracked or broken skin; a blister, cut, scrape, or sore; drainage or an unusual odor; a wound that is not healing; calluses over pressure points; ingrown or discolored toenails; changes in foot shape; difficulty walking; or any signs of infection.
Patients with diabetes should not ignore wounds, skin breakdown, or signs of infection, even when the area does not hurt. Reduced sensation can make a serious problem feel minor. Contact the office promptly about a new sore, wound, drainage, redness, warmth, swelling, or skin-color change. Seek urgent medical care for rapidly spreading redness, fever with worsening foot symptoms, black or gray tissue, sudden loss of color or warmth, severe swelling, or other signs of a serious infection or loss of circulation.
Good diabetic foot care continues between visits, and a short daily routine goes a long way. Checking the feet every day is the core habit: look at the tops, soles, heels, and the spaces between the toes for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, drainage, or changes in the skin. A mirror or a helper makes it easier to see the soles. Wash the feet with lukewarm water, dry carefully, especially between the toes, and apply moisturizer to dry skin while avoiding extra moisture between the toes.
A few more habits help protect the feet. Wear clean socks and shoes that fit well, and check inside shoes for rough spots or foreign objects before putting them on. Avoid walking barefoot, and leave corns, calluses, wounds, and ingrown toenails to a podiatrist rather than treating them yourself. Report anything new or worsening. This guidance is general and is not a substitute for the individual instructions your own healthcare team gives you.
The Elk Grove Village office is located in Suite 3004 of the Brock Medical Building at 800 Biesterfield Road, on the Ascension Alexian Brothers campus. Patients travel to the office from nearby Elk Grove Village neighborhoods, the areas around Busse Woods, and the village’s business and industrial corridors. Biesterfield Road, Arlington Heights Road, and Interstate 290 provide access to the surrounding area, with travel time depending on the patient’s starting point, traffic, and appointment time. Patients can contact the office for current parking, entrance, and accessibility guidance.
Diabetic feet need care that looks at the whole picture, from sensation and circulation to skin, nails, footwear, and pressure. Patients across Elk Grove Village tend to choose this practice for a few specific reasons.
“Dr. Craig Halihan is truly exceptional. My mother has suffered from serious, persistent skin-grafted foot ulcers, and after seeing many doctors, we've found none like him. He is incredibly kind, gentle, and consistently thoughtful, ensuring the most effective treatment possible. We feel completely confident in his care and appreciate how clearly he communicates her condition. We wish all doctors were like him!!”
Diabetic foot care is not only about treating problems that already exist. Most plans are built around four goals that protect the feet over the long term.
The first goal is early detection. Regular exams may identify nerve changes, pressure points, dry or cracked skin, and minor wounds before a patient feels them. Finding these concerns early may provide more treatment options and reduce the risk that a small problem becomes more serious.
A second goal is protecting the skin. By managing calluses, addressing pressure areas, guiding footwear, and treating nail problems, the podiatrists work to lower the chance that a wound or ulcer forms in the first place. For many diabetic patients, prevention is the most valuable part of ongoing care.
A third goal is supporting comfortable, appropriate movement. Custom orthotics, diabetic-friendly footwear, and pressure-relieving measures may make walking and standing more comfortable while protecting vulnerable parts of the foot. Activity recommendations depend on the patient’s circulation, sensation, skin condition, wound risk, and any weight-bearing or offloading instructions.
The fourth goal is reducing the risk of complications such as infections and nonhealing wounds. By monitoring higher-risk feet closely and acting quickly when something changes, the team works to protect long-term foot health and mobility. Not every patient carries the same risk, so this goal is always matched to the individual.
A professional diabetic foot exam is thorough but straightforward. The podiatrist usually reviews your diabetes history and current symptoms, asks about any previous wounds, infections, or foot procedures, and talks through footwear and activity concerns. From there, the exam looks at the skin, nails, and spaces between the toes for pressure areas, calluses, cracks, blisters, ulcers, or signs of infection.
The exam also checks concerns commonly associated with diabetes. Sensation is assessed for possible neuropathy, while circulation is evaluated for signs of reduced blood flow that may affect healing risk. The podiatrist may check foot structure, alignment, range of motion, and gait to identify areas of abnormal pressure and may recommend imaging or other testing when clinically appropriate. The visit usually ends with a personalized monitoring, prevention, or treatment plan based on the patient’s symptoms, risk factors, and medical history.
“Everyone was so nice! From the receptionist, nurses, doctor - I felt comfortable and at ease. I will definitely be back for all my podiatry needs.”
Care at the Elk Grove Village office is organized around a few core services that work together. The mix depends on each patient's symptoms, risk level, and diagnosis.
A thorough foot exam is the foundation of diabetic foot care. The podiatrist reviews a patient's diabetes history and current symptoms, then inspects the skin, nails, and spaces between the toes for calluses, cracks, blisters, sores, or signs of infection. This is also when foot structure, alignment, and areas of abnormal pressure are checked. The examination findings help guide the monitoring, preventive care, or treatment that follows.
Because diabetes can affect both nerves and blood flow, the exam includes checking sensation and evaluating circulation. Sensation testing may identify signs of neuropathy, while the circulation assessment looks for reduced blood flow that may increase healing and wound risk. Together, these findings help determine the patient’s level of risk and appropriate follow-up schedule.
For many patients with diabetes, routine nail and callus care is safer in the office than at home. The team can manage thick or difficult toenails, ingrown or discolored nails, corns, and calluses over pressure points. This matters most for patients who have neuropathy, poor circulation, previous wounds, reduced vision, or limited mobility, where a small nick or an over-the-counter corn product could create an avoidable injury.
Poorly fitting shoes, prominent bones, and uneven pressure can raise the risk of blisters, calluses, and wounds. Properly fitted diabetic footwear and custom orthotics may help reduce friction, redistribute pressure, cushion sensitive areas, and protect areas with reduced sensation. When a specific area needs protection, the podiatrists may also recommend padding, braces, boots, or other pressure-relieving options.
Diabetic foot care tends to follow a logical pathway, although not every patient needs every step. It usually starts by identifying risk factors such as neuropathy, circulation problems, foot structure, previous wounds, skin changes, and footwear. A comprehensive foot evaluation then examines sensation, circulation, skin, nails, pressure points, and biomechanics. The plan may include professional nail care, callus care, footwear guidance, and preventive monitoring. Vulnerable areas may be protected through footwear changes, padding, custom orthotics, braces, boots, or other offloading methods. Ingrown toenails, painful calluses, and other active concerns are treated as appropriate, while wounds, ulcers, and infections are evaluated and managed or coordinated through the dedicated wound-care service. Follow-up is based on the patient’s condition, healing progress, and level of risk.
Diabetic foot wounds can develop from repetitive pressure, friction, poorly fitting shoes, calluses, blisters, cuts, ingrown toenails, reduced sensation, changes in foot structure, or poor circulation. A diabetic foot ulcer is an open sore or wound that needs professional evaluation, because delayed healing and infection can raise the risk of complications. Catching a wound early gives the team more ways to help.
Care for a diabetic foot wound may include cleaning, debridement, pressure reduction, protective footwear, infection management, dressing recommendations, and follow-up monitoring when it is clinically appropriate. Debridement is the professional removal of dead, damaged, or unhealthy tissue, which can help the podiatrist assess the wound and support a healthier healing environment, though not every wound needs it. Offloading, which means taking pressure off a wound or high-risk area, is often part of the plan and may involve padding, protective footwear, diabetic shoes, custom orthotics, braces, or walking boots.
This page focuses on prevention and routine diabetic foot care. Active wounds and ulcers are handled through our dedicated wound care service, which appears with the related conditions listed below. If you have an open sore, a wound that is not healing, or signs of infection, it is best to be seen promptly.
Diabetic foot care at Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists is provided by podiatrists with training in foot and ankle surgery, wound care, neuropathy, and limb preservation. Provider availability may vary by office and appointment date.
Dr. Halihan is board-certified in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He completed undergraduate training at the University of Illinois at Chicago, earned his degree from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University in 2004, and finished a surgical residency at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. His specialized training in wound care and diabetic limb salvage is especially relevant when a diabetic foot shows numbness, skin breakdown, or a slow-healing sore.
Dr. Khan is board-certified in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, and his approach centers on conservative, evidence-based care, which fits diabetic foot management well. He earned his degree from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University in 2020, then completed a three-year residency at Ascension Saint Joseph in Chicago, where he served as chief resident in his final year. His training included diabetic wound care, limb salvage, and peripheral nerve surgery across a wide range of facilities. Dr. Khan also speaks Hindi and Urdu, which helps him connect with more patients across the community.
A native of the Chicagoland area, Dr. Krouse is board-certified in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He completed his undergraduate studies at Indiana University and earned his degree from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University in 2013, then served as chief resident during his residency at AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago. His residency included extensive training in wound care, limb salvage, and peripheral nerve surgery, all of which support careful diabetic foot care. He is also certified in STAR total ankle replacement.
“Dr. Krouse has been THE best foot doctor I have ever seen. I am still in post-op surgery care but so far, he has made the whole process so much better. From the very beginning of my doctors visits, he has answered every question (and I had many) without rushing me or ever making me feel like I was worrying too much. He reassured me that I will be ok and was honest about recovery time. Surgery went very well and the continued care is still reassuring me that I made the right choice with my foot surgeon. I’m not sure I would ever let anyone else work on my feet for any future surgeries. He is very polite, down to earth, humble, super nice and attentive to your needs!”
Diabetic foot care often overlaps with other foot conditions. When one of these is part of the picture, the same team can help, and you can read more on these related pages.
Yes. The Elk Grove Village office is in Suite 3004 of the Brock Medical Building on the Ascension Alexian Brothers Medical Center campus at 800 Biesterfield Road. Diabetic foot care is provided right there, and the same care is available at the Elgin, Huntley, and Montclare, Chicago offices.
Routine visits are one of the most useful parts of diabetic foot care, even when nothing hurts. Because nerve changes can hide a problem, a regular exam can catch pressure points, skin changes, or early wounds before you would feel them. Your podiatrist can suggest how often to come in based on your risk.
Yes. Diabetic foot care works alongside the rest of your diabetes management, not in place of it. The podiatrists focus on your feet and, when it helps, coordinate with your broader diabetes-care team so everything stays connected.
Patients travel to the Elk Grove Village office from across the village and the surrounding northwest suburbs for diabetic foot care.
Diabetic foot care is available through Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists at the Elk Grove Village, Elgin, Huntley, and Montclare, Chicago offices. The Elk Grove Village office is located in Suite 3004 of the Brock Medical Building at 800 Biesterfield Road. Services and provider schedules may vary by location, so patients can confirm current availability when booking.
Life in Elk Grove Village moves between work in the business parks, errands along Arlington Heights Road, and weekend time around Busse Woods, and diabetic foot care is meant to fit into that rhythm rather than interrupt it. For someone managing diabetes, a short, regular foot check is easier to keep up with when the office is on a familiar medical campus close to home. Many patients pair a foot visit with other routine care, keep an eye on their feet between appointments, and reach out when something changes. Office hours run through the week, including a later evening on Tuesday, so a visit can usually be arranged around work and family commitments.
Call (847) 352-0200 or schedule a diabetic foot exam online with the Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists team. The front desk can confirm current provider availability at the Elk Grove Village office, explain what to bring, and help you select an available appointment time.
Call (847) 352-0200 | Schedule Your Diabetic Foot Exam in Elk Grove Village
Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists 800 Biesterfield Rd, Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Brock Medical Building, Suite 3004, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
For patients who want to read more, these guides from Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists go deeper into diabetes-related foot health and related conditions.
• The Difference Between a Diabetic Foot Ulcer and a Venous Foot Ulcer
• Early Warning Signs of Venous Stasis Ulcers You Should Not Ignore
• Tarsal Tunnel vs. Neuropathy: Why These Conditions Are Often Confused
• Toenail Fungus 101: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Treat It
• Tired, Achy Feet? Simple Podiatrist-Approved Exercises
Diabetic foot problems do not follow one fixed sequence. Neuropathy, reduced circulation, pressure, skin changes, calluses, wounds, or infection may develop in different combinations. A break in the skin can become more serious when reduced sensation delays detection or reduced blood flow interferes with healing. Regular foot care focuses on identifying and addressing these risks early.
Diabetic foot infections often begin around a wound, ulcer, crack, blister, or other break in the skin. Infection may involve the skin and soft tissue and, in more serious cases, can extend into deeper tissues or bone. Because neuropathy can reduce pain, redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, odor, or worsening skin breakdown should be evaluated promptly.
Many diabetic foot problems can improve with prompt, consistent care, especially when they are caught early. Wounds can heal, infections can be treated, and pressure problems can be managed. Outcomes vary based on the type and severity of the problem, circulation, blood glucose management, infection, pressure on the affected area, overall health, and how early treatment begins.
Possible signs of infection include redness, warmth, swelling, increasing pain, drainage, a foul odor, or a wound that looks worse rather than better. Some people also feel generally unwell. Because diabetes can dull sensation, an infection can be present with less pain than expected, so it is safer to have any of these signs evaluated quickly.
It can be. A diabetic foot infection can progress faster and be harder to heal because of reduced circulation and sensation, and untreated infections can lead to serious complications. Early professional care may improve the chance of controlling an infection before it becomes more severe, so prompt evaluation is recommended.
Healing time varies according to the wound’s depth, location, blood flow, infection status, pressure on the area, blood glucose management, and the patient’s overall health. Some wounds take substantially longer than others and require close monitoring. A clinician can provide a more individualized outlook after evaluating the wound and response to treatment.
Diabetic foot ulcers commonly form on the bottom of the foot, especially over pressure points such as the ball of the foot or the heel, and also on the toes. Areas that take repeated pressure or friction are the most vulnerable. Offloading and proper footwear are often used to protect these spots.
Avoid walking barefoot, using over-the-counter corn or callus removers, cutting corns or calluses yourself, and soaking the feet for long periods. It is also best not to ignore a new sore, blister, or color change. When in doubt, it is safer to have a podiatrist handle nail, callus, and wound care.
An open wound or ulcer should be evaluated so the clinician can recommend appropriate cleaning, moisture balance, dressing, pressure relief, and follow-up. Do not rely on a one-size-fits-all dressing or manage a diabetic foot ulcer without professional guidance. Prompt care may reduce infection and complication risk.
People with diabetes should receive regular professional foot checks, including a comprehensive foot exam at least annually. Patients with neuropathy, reduced circulation, foot deformity, or a history of ulcers or wounds may need more frequent evaluations. The podiatrist will recommend a schedule based on the patient’s individual risk.
Yes, prevention is one of the main goals of diabetic foot care. By managing calluses, monitoring pressure points, guiding footwear, treating nail problems, and checking sensation and circulation, a podiatrist may help lower the risk that an ulcer forms. Regular visits make it easier to catch and address risks early.
For many patients with diabetes, professional nail and callus care is safer than doing it at home, especially with neuropathy, poor circulation, previous wounds, reduced vision, or limited mobility. A small nick or an over-the-counter corn product can create an injury that is slow to heal. A podiatrist can provide professional nail and callus care based on the patient’s circulation, sensation, skin condition, and level of risk.
They can help many patients. Custom orthotics and properly fitted diabetic footwear may redistribute pressure, reduce friction, cushion sensitive areas, and help lower the risk of pressure-related wounds. Not every patient needs them, so the podiatrist will advise based on your feet and risk level.
It helps to bring a list of your current medications, information about your diabetes history and blood sugar management, and the shoes you wear most often. If you have noticed any numbness, sores, or changes in your feet, make a note of when they started. This information helps the podiatrist build a plan that fits your situation.
Call (847) 352-0200 or request an appointment online, and the team will help match you with a podiatrist at the Elk Grove Village office or another nearby location. Whether you want routine monitoring or have a specific concern, the front desk can help you plan timing around your schedule.
If you are living with diabetes and want a team that will take the time to understand your history, explain what your feet actually need in plain language, and help protect both how your feet feel and how well they hold up day to day, Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists is ready to help. Whether you want routine monitoring, have new numbness or a callus you are worried about, or already have a sore that is slow to heal, the Elk Grove Village team can put a plan in place. Reach out whenever you are ready to make diabetic foot care part of your routine.
Schedule Your Diabetic Foot Exam in Elk Grove Village | Call (847) 352-0200
Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists 800 Biesterfield Rd, Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Brock Medical Building, Suite 3004, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Hours:
Our team is ready to help you feel your best, one step at a time!