The Best Diabetes Shoe!

Hello Everyone,

We recently got an email asking what the best Diabetic shoe was and decided this would be a good time to go into the details of footwear in Diabetes, focusing on the shoe today. We are all aware that patients with Diabetes have a risk of developing foot ulcers which can eventually lead to foot amputations if not managed well. According to the latest facts by the International Diabetes Federation:

As I keep telling my patients always, you just don’t wake up one day and someone decides to amputate a foot. High sugars alone do not cause an amputation, first you have to develop a wound/foot ulcer which refuses to heal. therefore the key to prevention of an amputation is to prevent a foot ulcer.

Diabetes Shoe Characteristics

One way to ensure your feet are always protected from ulcers or wounds is to wear comfortable shoes. The following points should be considered every time a patient with Diabetes goes shoes shopping:

1. Buy shoes in the afternoon.

Your feet are usually swollen in the afternoon due to normal activity during the day or due to heat. It allows you to gauge if the shoe fits well even when it is slightly swollen.

2. Wide toe index/box

pointy shoes can be in style but they do not conform to the normal anatomy of your foot. toes index is important to allow free movement of your toes without altering foot anatomy. Should also be deep enough to accommodate any foot orthotics (special soles)

3. Lightweight sole that is padded well and soft.

Try bending the shoe if it doesn’t bend easily the sole is too tough and might not offer good support.

4. Soft material

preferably buy shoes of natural material such as leather. this should be soft too. Another kind is breathable material such as those used to make running shoes

5. Protective interior

the inside of the shoes should be soft with a protective material to avoid skin irritation that might lead to wounds.

Remember to always test out both shoes when you go shopping and to also give time to break into the shoes by wearing them for a few minutes every day till your feet settle in.

Happy shoe shopping.

kind regards: Dr.Salwa Shahbal CEO, DMC