Diabetes is a condition in which your body is either unable to produce
insulin (a hormone that helps the body process sugar), or your tissues don't
respond to the insulin that's produced. This leads to too much sugar in the
blood, which, in turn, can damage blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, the heart, the
eyes, and the feet.Because of nerve damage to your feet, it may be difficult for
you to feel when you've done something like step on a small piece of glass or
stubbed your toe. And, poor circulation means that injuries or infections may
take a long time to heal. So, preventing injuries and irritations to your foot
is an important part of avoiding serious complications. Selecting proper
footwear is, in turn, the first step in avoiding injuries and irritations.Say
you're going off on a shoe-shopping expedition. Here are some things to keep in
mind:1) The end of the day is the best time to go shoe shopping, since that's
when feet are at their largest. (They're all stretched out from the rigors of
the day. And aren't expeditions best when done at sunset, anyway?)2) Be on the
lookout for experienced shoe-fitters. Whenever you go shoe shopping, be sure to
have your feet measured to get the best fit (since even when you're an adult
your feet may change over time), and be sure to let the clerk know that you have
diabetes. Let the clerk fit the shoes for you, then walk about in your shoes for
a bit (5-10 minutes should work) to make sure they're comfortable immediately.
Take them off and check your feet (or have the clerk check for you) for any
signs of redness. (Redness indicates that there's undue pressure in an area.) If
there is redness, then keep on searching; those shoes are not for you. Trade
Home is the name of a national chain of shoe stores that train their associates
to fit patients. If you are unable to feel your feet you should be fit for shoes
that have multidensity insoles.3) Look for shoes that are made of leather, suede
or canvas, since these are soft, flexible, breathable materials (leather uppers
are best). In fact, you may find the best fit with modern running or walking
shoes. (The New Balance brand walking shoe is often an excellent choice.)4) The
widest part of your foot should match the widest part of the shoe (and it goes
without saying really that the width of the shoe should easily accommodate the
width of your foot). Because your feet are such a pleasing shape, you should
pick a shoe that fits the outline of your feet quite well. In short, they should
be snug, but not tight. Heels should give a wide base of support. (These are not
high heels, folks, which are basically like walking on a nail head.) And the toe
box of the shoe should offer plenty of room.5) Pick shoes that have about 3/4"
of space between your big toe and the inside of the shoe. Make sure that the toe
box is high enough to accommodate any toe deformities, such as hammertoes. (Just
like most people, toes prefer habitations with plenty of space.) Also, feel free
to reach inside the shoe and feel it to make sure there are no ridges, wrinkles
or seams that could cause irritation to your foot. You want a smooth lining.
(You'll also want to check your shoes for foreign objects (like little rocks
or—ugh—spiders) each time you put them on.)6) Once you have diabetes, it may be
necessary to give up some types of shoes, simply because they either expose your
feet to danger, or because they themselves may cause too much pressure or
irritation to your foot. Definitely give up high heels. They offer little or no
support and put your feet in horribly awkward (and damaging) positions (kind of
like the worst high school bully ever). Also avoid sandals, especially the kind
with thongs between the toes, as well as slippers (which offer very little
protection), or any kind of shoe with open toes or heels.Once you get your new
shoes home, be sure not to wear them more than two hours at a time at first,
until your feet are used to them. (This does NOT mean, however, that you need to
break your shoes in. Your shoes should never be uncomfortable, and should fit
well from hour one.) As the days pass, you'll be able to increase the time you
wear your new shoes for an hour longer each day. And, these shouldn't be the
only shoes you wear. It's best to rotate your footwear about every five hours so
that you change the pressure points on your feet (and thus avoid the development
of ulcers). Have one pair for morning, one for the afternoon hours, and one for
evening.You'll also want to get your shoes checked out by your podiatrist. He or
she knows what can cause problems to diabetic feet, and can check your shoes to
be sure they're made well, fit you properly, and will not cause irritation to
your foot.If you're having trouble finding shoes in the store that fit you
properly, or if your podiatrist recommends it, you may be able to get shoes that
are developed specifically for diabetics. In fact, your podiatrist may be able
to prescribe lab-made shoes that are designed to fit your feet in particular
(which should make you feel extra special, of course). Special shoes, if
indicated, are often covered under insurance plans, or Medicare.
Vibram
FiveFingers Mens Classic Grey Blue Yellow Shoes
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