A diabetic person is likely to develop diabetic foot.  If you have an uncontrolled blood sugar over time, it can cause neuropathy and eventually damage your feet. The diabetic foot is one of the most painful conditions as it affects your nerves. Therefore, there is a need to take care of your feet to avoid any form of complications that can cause infections, injury, or amputations.

There is one vital ritual that you need to perform every day so as to ensure that your foot is well protected against neuropathy. It is important that you wear recommended diabetic shoe and socks. Also, make it a habit of inspecting every area of your foot on a daily basis.

Having talked on the need to wear a special designed diabetic shoe, you need to ensure that you get the best shoe that will protect you. Don’t shy from wearing this kind of shoe as there are elegant ones and not those ugly and bulky ones. Here is a guideline of selecting the best diabetic shoes.

5 Features of Best Diabetic Shoes

a) Excellent Ventilation

It is vital to know that airflow is a great concern with diabetic shoes and there is a need to have shoes that have excellent ventilation of air. The ventilation helps to regulate the temperature inside your shoe so that your feet don’t get hot swiftly.

Also, the shoe helps the sweat to evaporate quickly. It is vital to note that bacteria thrives in a moist and warm dark environment and the diabetic shoe is specifically made with special materials to ensure that there is proper circulation of air and that your foot breathe.

b) Minimal or No Seams

The diabetic shoe is required to be seamless or near seamless. The seams feature can result in irritation and added friction to the already sensitive foot. Most people with diabetics have sores and other existing foot challenges such as calluses that can be made worse by rubbing against the shoe seams. The lining of the diabetic shoes are soft and smooth and any seams that are covered.

c) Wider at the toes

The toes are usually a problematic area for people with diabetics. A good shoe will have a higher toe box that stops the toes from any form of bunching up and pinching. It is important that a diabetic shoe has a toe box that is wide and durable to protect the feet from rubbing or bumping into anything as the skin between the toes is mainly soft. The form-fitting materials in the shoes can also accommodate any form of foot deformities such as calluses and hammer toes.

d) Removable Insoles

Diabetics are often advised to use customized orthotics and if using one, ensure that it is well placed for maximum protection and comfort. Orthotics ensures that your weight is evenly distributed across your foot and enables you to adjust in case of any problem. These insoles are standardized to specifically provide cushioning as well as support. They are removable to enable you to replace them with orthotic or adjust them to fit.

Compared to ordinary shoes, diabetic shoes are different such that they are wider and deeper. There are some brands that have 2 insoles that are removable to provide an extra room and accommodate an orthotic for extra cushioning if needed.

e) Adjustable fit

Diabetic shoes must be easy to adjust. Most of them have Velcro or elastic straps to provide comfort and make it easily adjustable. Avoid a shoe that is too tight or has a lot of conventional ups as this constricts the foot’s blood vessels that are located at the front of your ankle. Pick a shoe that is secure and not tight.

A fitting shoe is a very important thing to consider and such case; there are things to consider when trying on a shoe. If you use orthotic then ensure to take them when going to buy a shoe. This will help you find the best fitting shoe. It is also very important to take diabetic socks you wear for hygiene since socks at the store be dirty as well as helping you find the best fitting shoe.

Tips on how to choose the best shoes

1. Ensure that your shoe fits well
2. Make sure that your shoes have added depth to accommodate the prescribed orthotics
3. Select diabetic shoes that are waterproof to ensure that your feet don’t get wet in a heavy shower
4. Buy shoes that can control odor
5. Closed shoes are better than sandals to protect from any injury
6. Select extra added bottoms for additional comfort
7. Have easily closed shoes with Velcro straps for easy closure
8. Don’t wear high heels
9. Don’t wear shoes for pointed shoes
10. Select shoes that are slip/oil-resistant
11. The shoe should have a moldable footbed that can lessen friction and cushions the impact.

Final Thought

Selecting a good diabetic shoe takes skills but it’s worth every effort. The best diabetic shoes should have the highlighted features to ensure that it protects your foot from any possible harm or discomfort. The article has offered you with the feature to check and tips of selecting the best shoes. Also, you can massage your legs with an electronic foot massager for enhanced relaxation.