Diabetes Footwear

Individuals with diabetes need to know the importance of footwear choice and foot care to their overall health and well-being.

When it comes to picking the best shoes, it’s crucial to choose shoes that fit comfortably and allow pressure to be spread out evenly across your feet.

Nowadays, there are specialized shoes available like Arcopedico and extra deep or extra wide footwear as well as prescription shoes designed to address specific foot care needs.

Importance of Having Shoes That Fit Well

It is extremely vital to have shoes that fit well. Your shoes should be wide and long enough, but not too loose either.

If your shoes are too shoes, you are likely to suffer from issues such as damaged nails, corns, blisters, and hammer toes. Hammer toes develop when you are forced to bend your toes when wearing your shoes, which, over time, can results in the muscles and tendons in the foot suffering damage causing deformation and other negative consequences.

Damaged toes and corns can occur if your toes don’t have enough space to move about and therefore are forced to rub against the inside of your shoe. Injury can occur either around or on the toes, or even at the heel if the shoes are too small.

If your shoes are not wide enough, your feet will feel too much pressure and rub against the sides of the shoe which can cause numerous health issues like bunions, blisters, calluses, and corns.

Any type of damage or alteration to the shape or skin of the foot can result in foot ulcers and wounds forming on your feet.

It’s worth noting that if you have been diagnosed with neuropathy, you may not be able to tell whether your shoes are causing damage to your feet. It’s crucial therefore that you inspect your feet regularly for any signs of change or damage.

Getting The Right Fit

To make sure that you find shoes that fit you properly, it’s advisable to have your feet measured, and the shoes fitted accordingly.

It’s advisable to go to an actual footwear store and try the shoes on before you make a purchase. Try on multiple shoes to get a feel of what type of shoes make your feet feel comfortable and adequately supported.

Regardless of the shoes you get, you should minimize the amount of time you spend with your shoes on. Stay barefooted whenever possible.

Check that your feet do not have any signs of damage after removing your shoes, like marks or redness on your skin. If your shoes show signs of not being the right fit, and you have not worn the shoes for long periods of time, you might be able to return them and choose a more suitable pair.

If you have concerns about the fit of a specific pair of shoes, you can opt to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist to get an accurate assessment.

Choosing a Good Shoe

Natural materials, like leather, are usually the best materials for shoes as they reduce sweating and offer good support. It’s recommended to avoid wearing shoes with high heels where possible, as this can expose parts of your feet to unreasonable amounts of pressure that can lead to injury.

Choose footwear that matches the shape of your feet and avoid footwear that does not, like shoes with pointed ends.

Just like the fit of your shoes, a professional podiatrist can advise you on the material and shape of shoes you should wear.

Inspecting Your Feet

It’s vital to inspect your feet regularly for any signs of rubbing or wear caused by your shoes. It’s also vital to check for any signs of change in appearance or damage on your feet.

Specialist Footwear

There are a wide variety of specialist footwear and shoes that may be available in shops or, in certain cases, on prescription.

It’s worth noting that if you are purchasing specialist footwear, like an extra wide or extra deep pair of shoes, from the internet or by mail order, it’s imperative that you make sure that the shoes fit well. Just like ordinary shoes, it’s important to try the shoes on for a small duration of time at home and/or seek the professional opinion of a podiatrist before proceeding to wear the shoes outdoors.

This is to ensure that if there are any issues with the shoes, you will be able to return them within the provided timeline.

Shoe Inserts (Orthoses)

Shoe inserts or Orthoses are basically soles with cushions that help to evenly distribute and reduce pressure on the sole of the foot. Orthoses may be made of gel or foam to relieve pressure on the base of the foot.

Extra Deep Footwear

Extra deep footwear offer more space inside the shoes and are a perfect option if you usually observe red marks or pressure points on the top of your feet.

Deeper shoes can also be beneficial if you use shoe inserts that slightly raise your feet when wearing your shoes.

Extra Wide Shoes

Extra wide footwear may be necessary for various reasons such as you have naturally wider feet, bunions, or swollen feet.

Many footwear shops offer wide fitting shoes nowadays, which means that you can choose extra wide shoes for casual, formal and sports wear.

Prescription Footwear

If you have special footwear needs, like you need shoes to allow your feet to heal faster, you may be prescribed specific shoes by your physician.

If your prescription shoes are not a proper fit for you, you can seek professional advice from an orthotist or podiatrist, who will address any issues you may have with your prescription footwear.