Diabetic Shoes

One unpleasant, although uncommon, side effect of diabetes is a condition called peripheral neuropathy. This condition can cause a slight loss of feeling in the extremities of the body like the feet & this in turn can result in scuffing or cutting of the feet without any "pre-warning" pain.

For some people who suffer from diabetes, the wearing of shoes that misfit or are tight can be not only uncomfortable, but dangerous.

When this happens, sores & even ulceration can occur & this can become a serious issue for some sufferers of diabetes.

The way to avoid these potential problems is to wear diabetic shoes.

Diabetic shoes have no obvious visual differences from conventional shoes, the only noticeable distinction is that they do not come with high heals. Other than that their styles, materials & colours are flexible, but their primary design objective is comfort & foot support than fashion. plenty of diabetic style shoes are often referred to as orthopedic shoes.

Features of diabetic shoes

A well fitted pair of diabetic shoes should be comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time, & they should not rub or bite on any part of the foot.

These shoes are designed to be slightly wider & deeper than regular shoes & they also permit the addition of a removable (and replaceable) diabetic insole. These insoles are shaped to the contours of the foot & some utilise modern materials like visco elastic memory foam for padding. The design of these shoes allows periodic replacement of the insole, or the option to try different types of insole until the best fit is found.

lots of diabetic shoes are manufactured from highly breathable materials to facilitate air circulation & sandal designs are popular. Fabrics & materials are also used in diabetic shoe construction over traditional leather.

cool diabetic or orthopedic shoes should permit sufficient room for the toes to move & for the feet to expand during prolonged standing, or on a hot day. cool quality shoes need to work with, & accommodate to, the changes of the feet during activities like walking & to provide air circulation within the shoe.

Other features of these shoes include the avoidance of interior seems that can rub & scuff, & the inclusion of specially designed toe boxes that prevent the toes from being squeezed.

it is also advisable to select a shoe with the greatest level of adjustability & tightness control. This means that shoes with multiple fasteners & Velcro (loop & hook) fastenings are ideal.

For a more complete list of diabetic shoe properties, see http://www.orthopedic-shoes.net/diabetic.html & if you are contemplating buying some diabetic shoes, remember that having the shoes fitted correctly is as important as selecting them in the first place.

Most shoes marketed as "orthopedic" or "easy-fit" shoes will also offer the same roomy & function designed attributes as those labelled as diabetic, so there is a cool selection of styles to pick from.