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You have diabetes & you’re trying to take care of your feet. You have heard about what happens if you do not take care of your feet & you do not want that to happen to you… You are already making a good decision!

But what’s the difference between purchasing a diabetic shoe & one from a discount shoe store? What makes a diabetic shoe preferential over any store-bought style of footwear?

The answer falls upon the condition, itself, & how the diabetic shoe responds to footwear. To a person with diabetes, they have to be wary of losing sensation in their feet. This process most likely will not happen suddenly, but gradually, as the disease progresses. As the blood flow is impeded to the extremities, bumps & calluses that harm the soft tissue can cause the person with diabetes real problems.

We have all experienced a pair of shoes that pushes in one place, rubs the skin raw in another, & feel uncomfortable. And so… So far so good. We wear them because we think they look good on our feet. If you’re diabetic, like I’ve been for over ten years, you have to ensure these things do not happen to you… So here are a few things to look for when purchasing a diabetic shoe:

1. Make sure the shoe has some extra depth added into the structure. Ones that provide space for an accommodative orthotics work best. The reason is that orthotics help to support your body from the feet up & help you to avoid damage to the bottom of your feet.

2. When trying on shoes, place your hand in the shoe & feel around. If it’s a proper diabetic footwear style, there will not actually be any seams & rough spots within the confines of the shoe. Diabetic shoe makers make certain their styles will not rub the foot. Their primary goal is for you to have healthy feet!

3. Your toes should have some room at the top of the shoe when you put them on. Make sure you’re wearing the proper size. You do not want your foot shifting from side to side, either, so make certain the width is correct, as well. It’s amazing how many people walk around in shoes that do not fit them.

4. Like with any shoe, you do not want to just put your shoes on & walk in them all day. There should be a ‘breaking in’ period as your feet adjust to your new footwear. Walk around your house or yard for only a couple of hours the first day you wear the shoes. After that, you can gradually increase the time spent in your new shoes. If there is any problem, you should stop wearing any shoe ? especially if you’re diabetic!

Other items that you might find useful for your feet are insoles, socks, & foot cream. Taking care of your feet is just as important as testing your blood sugar, so you want to make certain you take care of everything.

Insoles support the feet. You may even have heard them called by other names, such as arch supports, inserts, & orthotics, but they all fall into the category as a supportive foot bed that cushions and/or controls the foot. Insoles will help ‘level out the playing field’ of your stance & add comfort to your stride. They also take pressure off different areas of the feet ? such as the heel & ball-of-the-foot that give people the most problems. There is more. To the diabetic, insoles are an integral part of proper foot care.

The proper socks are also very important. If you have diabetes, you’re going to want to wear socks that contain natural materials, such as cotton & wool. Metals, such as silver, are also very popular in diabetic socks because the silver is a natural anti-microbial that destroys bacteria & fungi. The medical community uses silver to treat wounds & burns because of this quality. Silver also cuts down on the smell produced by perspiration which adds to the benefit of having silver socks. Incidentally, you can also find silver in shoes & insoles, as well.

Finally, foot creams should be used to keep your feet smooth & crack-free. It’s also a good regimen to get into because it keeps you examining your feet on a daily basis. There is more. This is important. You should do a visual inspection of your feet every day. If you can not see the bottom of your feet, use a mirror. The foot cream adds that extra incentive to do this daily & makes you feel good, as well. You should also avoid putting foot cream between your toes. You should only apply the cream to the top & bottom of your feet. Getting any substancebesidessoap & water between your toes invites bacterial growth & can result in problems. Avoid this at all costs.

Being diabetic brings many challenges to a person. Taking proper care of your feet is an excellent start to living a healthy & active life. Do not take your feet for granted when you purchase footwear. If problems do occur, do not waste time trying to solve the situation yourself, but get to a doctor, immediately.

James Fowler is a freelance author & search engine marketer who writes articles on internet marketing, local business advertising, & foot health issues.

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