Podiatrist know that when someone is diagnosed with diabetes, they are more likely to have a variation of foot problems. They may suffer from diseases that affect foot nerves resulting in an illness called peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy affects the whole body, but mostly legs and feet.
Nerve damage results in loss of feeling in feet, difficulty detecting extreme temperatures and difficulty feeling pain as easily, which means you may not feel serious cuts or injuries.
But what's one to do when they need to go about their normal daily activities when they are suffering from neuropathy. In order to better protect yourself from injuries, here are some benefits and reasons for wearing diabetic shoes:
- When buying diabetic shoes, make sure there's a protective interior made of soft material and avoid protruding stitches found in shoes. The advantage of choosing such shoes will help eliminate too much friction with feet which means you won't have to worry about skin irritation and skin breakage since diabetic feet are already very sensitive.
- Non-binding uppers, the upper material of the shoe, should be soft to avoid irritating bunions. Also, make sure they're stretchable so they conform to the contours of your unique foot shape. This is a crucial part because neuropathic feet are prone to ulcer development. When you choose shoes that don't avoid certain pressure points on feet, you'll avoid ulcer formation at the bottom surface of the foot.
- Ask your Lincoln Park podiatrist about extra depth design shoes that relieve pressure by accommodating thick orthotic inserts. And make sure there's a deep toe box for toe movement and less pressure on toes. This is, again, beneficial in reducing pressure at the toes, and avoiding skin irritation and friction which may result in skin breakage. Because a diabetic can't feel pain quite as well, if this skin breakage goes unnoticed, people may develop serious skin infections.
- You may even want to ask your podiatrist about special orthotics with functional soles. This is a lightweight and cushioned sole that creates a more stabile environment for feet while you go about your daily activities, reduces foot impact on hard surfaces, and improves foot motion.
In addition to having proper shoes, make sure you take care of your feet and overall health that may affect foot health.
Wash your feet with warm water and soap and thoroughly examine feet, especially between toes, to make sure there aren't any injuries. Use non-irritating lotion to prevent cracks and keep toes neatly trimmed.
Other health care advice includes:
- Avoid smoking since it reduces blood flow to feet
- Wear clean, dry socks
- Change socks everyday
- Never walk barefoot
Are you interested in learning more about diabetic shoes? If so, don't hesitate to contact Dr. Warren Levy at his Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL, office by calling (312) 266-6326 today!