Want to Manage Your Diabetes Better? Our Wichita Podiatrist Recommends Proper Footwear
Since people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are more at risk for foot deformities, infections, and nerve issues, it’s imperative to invest in high-quality and supportive shoes. At Central Kansas Podiatry Associates, we strive to provide compassionate, informed care to help you manage your entire health profile—and your feet are an essential foundation of wellness. Learn what conditions can be avoided with proper footwear for diabetics.
Common Diabetes-Related Foot Problems
People with diabetes can suffer from peripheral artery disease (lack of circulation) and peripheral neuropathy (loss of feeling). Even light, everyday activities such as walking can cause foot problems, as the condition affects the bones, joints, and skin. Without daily foot checks, effective cleaning, good shoes, and regular podiatry exams, what might be a minor irritating issue to someone without diabetes can escalate into a serious health complication for an individual trying to manage the disease.
Diabetes-related foot problems include:
- Foot ulcers (wounds) that don’t heal
- Fungal infections, including chronic athlete’s foot and toenail fungus
- Ingrown or brittle toenails
- Hammer toes
Gangrene, or dead tissue, can develop, causing bacterial infections that may result in amputation of the affected areas.
Proper Footwear For Diabetics Recommended by Our Wichita Podiatrist
At Central Kansas Podiatry Associates, we want to help you manage all aspects of your condition and lifestyle. Prevent foot issues from developing by choosing shoes that provide support and stabilization and fit comfortably. Here are our tips:
- Choose shoes that limit the movement of affected joints to alleviate inflammation and subsequent pain.
- Also, look for footwear that limits horizontal movement against the shoe to prevent friction that causes skin irritation.
- The design of both casual and dress shoes should reduce impact, absorb shock, and lessen pressure along the bottom of the foot.
- Make sure to have footwear that fits well, providing plenty of room in the toe box to avoid restricting movement.
In some cases, we might also prescribe special diabetic footwear to our patients, including:
- Custom-made shoes
- Healing and post-operative shoes
- Deeper insoles that accommodate orthotic inserts (orthoses)
- External shoe modifications to absorb shock and add stability
Custom-made footwear and orthoses are molded from a cast of the patient’s foot and incorporate modifications for deformities, as well as relief from pressure.