Healthwise

Anyone with diabetes should have a screening called an ankle brachial index and have their toe pressure checked as well. The ankle brachial index is a simple and painless screening tool that compares the blood pressure in your ankles with the blood pressure in your arm. In a healthy person, those two numbers should be the same. But if the blood pressure in your ankles is lower, it could be a sign that plaque in your arteries is restricting blood flow to your legs. This can cause serious health problems that lead to limb loss. With screening, your doctor can let you know if medical intervention is necessary.