Protective Shoes for Diabetics

According to a recent survey, about 86,000 lower limbs are amputated annually due to complications from diabetes. Even a small blister left untended can cost you a limb.

Occasionally, the feet of a diabetic are far more sensitive to abrasion than the feet of a regular patient. Just a little bit of rubbing from a hard shoe will leave your feet feeling like a tub of hot water got spilled on them. The worst part of it is that quite often nobody else can see a thing until the sores begin to appear, then suddenly it is too late.

You've got problems!

The problem is so bad for some of us that our legs suddenly swell up to about twice their normal size! (edema -- or "swelling" to us laymen types-- is the #1 cause of pressure ulcerations) When that happens, your feet may reject the shoes you wear and feel like you have roasted them for hours in the microwave! Feeling stove up and useless is bad for morale, you can't even watch television in comfort.

Do you have a friend or loved one suffering from Diabetes?
Click HERE to see a full line of diabetic/sensitive products,
including a wide selection of diabetic socks!

The most important thing to remember is that YOU are responsible for the care of your feet.

If you feel pain, there is pain there. If your old shoes are uncomfortable, rasping your feet, do something about it. Rely on the pain or discomfort YOU feel to make your decisions -- but, on the other hand remember that you won't always feel the damage being done.

One friend of mine lost both of his feet because some kid had put used pecan shells into his shoes. He felt only mild discomfort. As Patti Glick points out in the box below, this lack of sensation is so bad you can actually have a fracture in your foot and not feel the pain.

Consequently, if a doctor, nurse or therapist tells you that problems are developing in your feet, agree with thine adversary quickly and get that problem taken care of.

Take it for gospel, your days of walking barefoot or over. Don't do it, not even in your home, and especially not at the beach.

Is your home really that dangerous? Yes. I have found thumb tacks in the floor, I have run into sewing needles in the carpet pointed my way. Then there's the bottle caps that can cause damage no matter which way is up. And there is ALWAYS the danger that a glass broke in the kitchen and not all the slivers got picked up. Walking around barefooted in the dark is just plain stupid. Just think of the floor in your home as a minefield and you'll be a whole lot safer.

Basically there are two types available, the lace up, and the Velcro® buckle. Since this isn't the really good kind of Velcro®, I opted for the lace up.

Here's a hot tip for you -- gee, I've waited years to say that legitimately. Take your inserts to the microwave and heat them slightly, one at a time. All microwaves have different settings. You should start with about 6 seconds of heating or even less if you know your oven gets hot quicker than most.

When you get the heat just right the inserts will just almost ooze. If the insole needs more heat, remember that it is already slightly warm. Overheat and you've got smoke in the auditorium.

When the temperature is exactly right, MOLD them to fit your feet precisely and when they cool, they will always retain their shape.

The lace up shoe has a strip of Velcro® beneath the outside strip which holds the laces more securely. That blessing is kind of frustrating at first, then quickly becomes reassuring.

Other than the tie and buckle choice, both shoes feel about the same on your feet. Both shoes are made with a balanced (Rocker Bottom) sole to evenly distribute your weight system to prevent pressure ulcerations of the foot. The casings are made of Lycra, a machine washable stretch material.

Stretch material? Yes. Any shoe you get because of your diabetes should be made out of good stretch material. If that material does not stretch you can get blisters, sores, etc.. The material found in OMCI shoes is Lycra.

Lycra is used because it stretches and also BREATHES. When it breathes, good, clean air will seep in, old stale air will squish out, and your feet will feel better for it. That ventilation contributes to the control of fungus and bacteria development too.

There is a reinforced toe box (known as a toe rounder) to keep toes from rubbing the top of the shoe. Boy, was that ever a relief!

The heel is a leather-like quarter section for strength and durability.

Before they get into a pair of these shoes, a lot of people focus their dreams on how soft the insoles will be to the bottom of their feet. That's only part of the reason these shoes are so good to your feet. Another reason is that about 90% of the abrasion across the top of your toes will suddenly be eliminated. Suddenly your feet have a chance to get well from all that abrasion you've been putting them through. The truth is, these shoes are more comfortable to wear than my favorite house shoes. Best of all, they look good in public, unlike the monstrosities you see some people hobbled with.

There's no more hiring someone to wear your new shoes for a week or so either; actual break-in time for these shoes was slashed to about three minutes. I thought I was in heaven.

WARNING: Learning to ride a motorcycle isn't dangerous until you think you know what you're doing. It's the same way when you are new to the lighter weight shoes for diabetics.

The first day everything goes smoothly because you are watching your step. After the second day you will gradually let your subconscious take over watching your step.

Unfortunately, your subconscious is about a week behind the times. It's still thinking heavier shoes, stiffer shoes, and narrower shoes. That can lead to trouble. My third day I kept missing steps, or I'd find myself going over the edge of the sidewalk before I knew I was there. So, watch yourself that second day and maybe part of the third.

Another thing you can do to keep from breaking your neck is to wear these shoes for only one or two hours at a time -- going back to your older shoes for a short time.

Now, you may balk at this piece of advice, and I don't blame you because it is expensive. I suggest you get TWO pairs of new shoes. No matter how comfortable these new shoes are when you first get them, there will soon come a time when your feet become sensitive in one spot or another. Going to a second pair of shoes seems to relieve that pressure. If you can't afford two pairs of shoes, then at least get two pairs of inserts and take the time to switch them regularly.

Before buying a new pair of shoes make sure your feet are feeling as comfortable as possible when you are measured or fitted. The size and shape of your feet can change over time. If you can't find an experienced shoe fitter, you can fit yourself. Here's how:

Keep your pen or pencil straight up and down while you trace an outline of both your feet on a piece of construction paper. Cut the outlines out.

Turn the shoe upside down and place the outline over the sole. It MUST fit inside the sole at all points with room to spare. If you see stitching on the bottom of the sole, make sure the outline fits inside the stitching with room to spare. Leave room for your toes to wiggle.

Just as soon as you are diagnosed with diabetes begin to phase out any desire to wear high heels, sandals, and pointed shoes. Yes, that includes the pointed-toe cowboy boots. They put excess pressure on your feet.

Always wear socks or stockings with your shoes. Socks made of wool or 1OO% cotton offer the most protection. They also keep your feet warm and dry. Do not wear mended or seamed socks. Whomever invented seamed socks did NOT have diabetes, I can guarantee you. Seams can cause blisters or skin injuries..

When you're being treated for an infection
don't even think about wearing nylon stockings.

The need for proper foot care keeps right on growing after you begin wearing your wonderful new shoes made special for diabetics.

Experts say to WASH your feet daily. I added a step prior to that. Soak your feet daily. I bought a plastic container for like a dollar that was big enough to put my feet in. While I'm reading the Scriptures I soak my feet in the container using a special mild acid water. (that is acid, as in the Ph. factor, not the carbolic acid type) Try it for yourself. Both your soul, and your sole will feel better for it.

AFTER your feet have soaked, take a good look at your toenails. Using toenail clippers with a square biting edge, trim them up, straight across. Never cut into corners as this could trigger an ingrown toenail.

Check the tops and bottoms of your feet daily, especially between your toes. If you can't see the bottoms, put a mirror on the floor and hold your feet up to one side of it so you can see every nook and cranny. If you have a "dead" toe like I do, massage it softly. Any time I am tempted to forego these ministrations I make myself remember that I'll never get a second set of feet as good as my first ones.

See your healthcare provider immediately if you recognize any foot problems such as: skin color changes, open sores that are slow to heal, ingrown toenails, fungus that raises those nails up and become hazardous, cracks in the skin, corns or calluses. Hot or cold spots can be clues to circulation problems in specific areas. Pains in your legs, swelling of foot or ankle are warning signs too; they warn me that my insulin needs checking immediately.

When I'm done checking everything out, I take time to wash my feet with mild soap and lukewarm water.

You can dry your feet gently with a soft towel. Special care needs to be taken when drying between the toes. Here I use an old, soft, wash cloth. Patti Glick recommends the use of moisturizing lotion (but not between toes) to keep skin from cracking.

Take the APMA's
Diabetes Foot Care Quiz

"Like many people who are diabetic you may not be able to feel heat, cold or pain very well in your feet. You must take certain precautions because of this. Take care not to burn yourself on a hot-water bottle for instance.

"If you use an electric blanket, remember to switch it off before going to sleep. Don't put your feet too near a fire or against a radiator. Check the temperature of the bath water using your elbow before stepping into it." Click HERE for more cautions.

"Similar to the feeling of a "fat lip" after a dentist's anesthetic injection, the diabetic with advanced neuropathy looses all sharp-dull discrimination. Any cuts or trauma to the foot can go completely unnoticed for days or weeks in a patient with neuropathy. It's not uncommon to have a patient with neuropathy tell you that the ulcer "just appeared" when, in fact, the ulcer has been present for quite some time. There is no known cure for neuropathy, but strict glucose control has been shown to slow the progression of the neuropathy." Click HERE for more precautions.

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