People with diabetes are more vulnerable to foot problems because diabetes can damage nerves and reduce blood flow to the feet. One in five people with diabetes who seek hospital care do so for foot problems. By taking proper care of your feet, many serious health problems associated with diabetes can be prevented.

 

Ensuring proper footwear is very important for diabetic patients. Fortunately diabetic shoes are covered by most insurances including Medicare B.

 

The shoes often need to be prescribed and fitted by foot and ankle specialist. Occasionally, an orthotist will be needed for custom shoes needed to accommodate deformities and partial amputations.

Diabetic shoes may be vary by design to have either a very stiff sole to a rocker bottom shape. Shoe are also designed to prevent seams are any prominent material to prevent blisters or diabetic ulcers.

 

There can be many benefits to wearing custom diabetic shoes:

• Relieve areas of increased pressure. This will prevent too much pressure in a specific area to prevent skin ulcerations.

• Reduce shock and shear. It is ideal to reduce shock vertically and reduce shearing of the foot which has an increased chance of developing blisters.

• Accommodate, stabilize and support deformities. Diabetic shoes will support your arch better as your arch may have collapsed over time and the shoes can help stabilize any other deformities.

• Limit motion of joints to prevent pain and to have a more stable foot for a natural gait.