Your feet are the structures furthest from your heart, so the blood has to flow furthest to reach your toes. It is possible that there may be narrowing or even blockages in the arteries supplying your feet. Identifying blood flow problems early can help you get the right treatment before major problems develop.
We check blood flow in your feet in three ways
- Feeling for pulses – there are usually two places where we can feel pulses. On top of your feet, and behind your ankle.
- Doppler ultrasound – we will use a little ultrasound gel and the doppler probe in the areas where we usually feel for pulses.
- Photoplethysmography – using a tiny probe against the skin on your toes and checking the blood pressure in your toes.
The results we get are kept on record so that we can check for changes at a later date.
What is TBI measurement?
TBI stands for Toe Brachial Index. This is a number derived from comparing the blood pressure in your arm with the blood pressure in your toes.
We use an automated system to measure this, and can send detailed reports to your doctors afterwards.
If you have cold feet, get cramps in your legs at night or when walking, or have noticed changes in the colour of your feet then you should get help to check your circulation. People living with diabetes should do this at least every year as part of routine checks.