For people with diabetes, it is important to wear comfortable shoes of the right size. Do not confuse a tight fit with good support.

1. Choose shoes with enough wiggle room for your toes. Avoid shoes that have pointed toes and instead go for ones with a spacious toe box.

2. Avoid high-heeled shoes. These put pressure on the ball of the foot and places you in an unstable position. Do not buy shoes with too flat a sole either. Go for footwear with less than an inch high.

3. Have your feet measured each time you buy shoes. Feet tend to change size and shape over time, so it is important for diabetics to get an accurate measurement.

4. Look for footwear with soft insoles.

5. Shoes with laces, Velcro, or buckles make it easier to adjust the shoes.

6. Materials like plastic do not allow for adequate circulation of air. Choose suede, canvas, or leather.

7. Open toe shoes, sandals, and flip-flops can make you prone to injuries like cuts, sores, and blisters. Choose closed shoes instead.

8. Do not walk barefoot. A study showed that more than half of people with diabetes walk around the house without shoes. This is not recommended.

If you have diabetes, you are at increased risk of developing foot problems. Thus, it is important to take special care of your feet.

Diabetic shoes are important since ill-fitting shoes are a main cause of foot injury and ulcerations.

These shoes are often wider and deeper than regular shoes to make room for special diabetic insoles. Particularly in patients with uncontrolled blood sugar and pre-existing foot conditions, they may feel the injury until it’s too late.

There are two main problems that can affect your feet it you have diabetes.

The first is peripheral vascular disease which is a circulatory condition wherein there is reduced blood flow to the limbs caused by narrowed arteries.

If you have diabetes, there is a higher probability of impaired circulation causing the wounds on the feet to heal more slowly, raising the risk of becoming infected.

Nerve damage in the feet is another main risk for people with diabetes. This can cause loss of sensation in the feet, which means you may not feel heat, cold, or pain in your feet.

Wearing well-fitting shoes and inserts help reduce the risk of foot problems. Consulting a foot doctor at least once a year reduces the risk of getting a wound and then getting an amputation by as much as 70%. If you have a history of foot problems, you should visit your podiatrist more often. Any foot pain, cut, bruise, sore, calluses, and sores must be reported for proper evaluation and management.

To prevent neuropathy, keep your blood sugar in check. Vitamin B12 and thiamine are essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system as well for the synthesis of neurotransmitters.

To keep the nerves healthy, a neuropathy vitamin such as NeuRx by DrLamLabs can help diabetics prevent tingling and numbness in the feet.

Around 67 percent of limb amputations in the United States are attributed to diabetes and its complications. Diabetic neuropathy is a major reason for deformities and ulcers. Rates were 50 percent higher in males and the elderly have more amputations.

image from thediabetescouncil.com

Specially designed diabetic shoes or shoe inserts are an important part of the overall management program for people with diabetes, even for those in the early stages of the disease.

By working with a podiatrist, patients can prevent serious diabetic foot complications. Diabetic shoes reduce the overall amount of pressure and shock on the foot, relieve areas of excessive pressure, stabilize and support foot deformities, and limit the motion of joints to relieve pain and increase foot function and stability.

The cost of amputations is high – both emotionally and financially. So it is important to see a podiatrist for a comprehensive foot examination.

Diabetics with neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease with previous ulcerations, should see us now.

You can also call us at (239) 430-3668.