Steer clear of sandals, flip-flops, or other open-toe shoes. Straps can put pressure on parts of your foot, leading to sores and blisters. Open-toe shoes can make you prone to injuries like cuts. It's also easier for gravel and small stones to get inside them.
Avoid shoes made entirely of rubber, which can trap moisture and lead to infection. Check for a cushioned sole. Your ideal shoe should have a thick shock-absorbing sole and reduce pressure on the bottom of your foot. Avoid sneakers that have limited cushioning in the sole and can cause ulcers or blisters.
Diabetes is the leading cause of limb amputations in the United States, with most cases stemming from an inability to feel a minor injury and subsequent infection. As a result, people with diabetes should never walk barefoot—even indoors.
Don't soak your feet. Dry your feet completely and apply lotion to the top and bottom—but not between your toes, which could lead to infection. Never go barefoot. Always wear shoes and socks or slippers, even inside, to avoid injury.
Look for a lightweight shoe that lets your feet move and breathe. Choose a flexible material, such as leather, canvas, or suede. Remember that a good diabetic shoe should have a shock-absorbing sole, which will help relieve pressure on the bottom of your foot.
Soft Materials. People living with diabetes need to be gentle with their feet. Look for socks made with soft fibers like bamboo or wool. These yarns won't rub against the skin, and they can help prevent friction that causes blisters.
If you have diabetes, you should not wear regular shoes. Diabetic shoes can help you preserve your limbs because nonhealing wounds can cause a severe infection that warrants having an amputation.
Myth: People with diabetes can't cut their own toenails
Not true: the general advice on toenail cutting applies to everyone. If you have diabetes you should keep your nails healthy by cutting them to the shape of the end of your toes.
It occurs when you have elevated blood sugar for a long period. The most common type of diabetes-related neuropathy affects your legs and feet. There is no cure for diabetes-related neuropathy. You can manage nerve pain with medication, exercise and proper nutrition.
Consider socks made specifically for patients living with diabetes. These socks have extra cushioning, do not have elastic tops, are higher than the ankle and are made from fibers that wick moisture away from the skin. Wear socks to bed. If your feet get cold at night, wear socks.
Most lower leg and foot removals begin with foot ulcers. An ulcer that won't heal causes severe damage to tissues and bone. It may require surgical removal (amputation) of a toe, a foot or part of a leg. Some people with diabetes are at higher risk than others.
The impact of diabetes on your feet
Diabetes can cause nerve damage, called peripheral neuropathy, that makes you lose feeling in your feet. This can be a disaster if you're walking around without foot protection.
Benefits of Walking
Try to work your way to 10,000 steps per day or at least 30 minutes a day to cut your risk of type 2 diabetes. If you have trouble walking 30 minutes at a time, try walking in smaller amounts throughout the day, such as 10 minutes in the morning, afternoon, and evenings.
Look for a material such as leather that is soft, stretchable, and will protect your feet. Choose shoes that have laces or an adjustable closure so that you can put them on with ease and adjust them as needed when your feet swell. Choose shoes with a wider toe box so that they will not compress the toes.
A proper diabetic shoe provides comfort, but more importantly, protection. Diabetic shoes keep ulcers from forming and prevent foot strains and calluses. The interior is made from soft seam-less materials with no stitching as to prevent irritation caused by materials rubbing against the foot as you move.
Diabetics should always wear shoes in the house, even when they aren't going outside, in order to avoid possible injury to feet from objects on floors that can be stepped on or fallen upon by accident. It helps protect the feet from injuries such as cuts and bruises from sharp objects found around the home.
Vicks VapoRub also has other popular off-label uses—and these have more support than use of the product on the feet to improve a cough. Vicks is sometimes used on the feet to relieve neuropathy pain, treat toenail fungus, and soften callouses.
Epsom salt and diabetes
Epsom salt is a mineral compound with many different uses, but people with diabetes should avoid using it. No form of foot soak is appropriate for individuals with diabetes. People use Epsom salt as a home remedy for various health issues.
Do not eat white bread, chips, and pastries, which quickly increase blood sugar. Avoid processed foods and meats as they will be rich in salt and oil. Restrict fried and fatty foods. Do not take full fat dairy products.
Medicare will cover the treatment of corns, calluses, and toenails once every 61 days in persons having certain systemic conditions. Examples of such conditions include: Diabetes with peripheral arterial disease, peripheral arterial disease, peripheral neuropathy, and chronic phlebitis.
What to Look For in Diabetic Toenails. The first toenail change you'll notice in diabetic patients is likely to be discoloration. Most have some yellowing of the nails, though the shade and involvement can vary. Discoloring may start at the distal edge (tip), and run all the way to the root of the nail bed.
Many people ask us if diabetics are allowed a free pair of shoes. Unfortunately, this is not true. However, qualifying diabetics with Medicare are entitled to one pair of shoes and three shoe inserts per calendar year with little to NO COST.
People with diabetes are more likely than those without diabetes to get a fungal infection called onychomycosis. This infection usually affects the toenails. The nails will turn yellow and become brittle.
New Balance work shoes are also diabetic-friendly so they may help diabetics manage foot pain caused by neuropathy or other conditions that lead to swelling of the feet. New Balance offers a wide range of sizes for men, women, and children as well as orthotics insoles which you can purchase separately if needed!