Diabetic? Make Careful Shoe Choices

Not many people think of footwear as an important health choice, but if you're diabetic, you can't overlook the impact of the shoes you choose.

Diabetes can lead to a condition called diabetic neuropathy. The chronically high glucose and insulin levels in your blood can be toxic to your nerves, which can affect the level of feeling you have in your feet. Lowered levels of sensation often mean that problems with the feet aren't caught as early as they would have been otherwise.

Foot complications are common in patients with diabetes. In fact, problems involving the feet are the cause of up to 25 percent of diabetes-related hospitalizations in the United States. Often the first indication that there is a problem is an ulcer on the foot. This is an open sore or skin irritation that forms on the foot's surface. If not treated properly, a foot ulcer can ultimately lead to amputation.

Most foot amputations are the result of a traumatic accident. After accidents, diabetic complications are the next leading cause.

What do this have to do with your shoes? Well, researchers found that almost two-thirds of diabetic patients wear shoes that are the wrong size. Often the shoes are too narrow or too short. Shoes that are too small can increase the chances of foot ulcers and amputation.

If you are diabetic, make sure that you have your feet measured before trying on shoes. Insist that a measurement be done when you are sitting down and when you are standing up. Then, keep trying on shoes until you find a pair that fits properly. It can make a big difference to the health of your feet.

Stay well,
Heather Robwell