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good for the so l e Diabetic Footwear

regular shoes, to make room for special diabetic insoles. Orthotic insoles for diabetics are generally custom made for the patient’s feet, to en- sure proper fit and minimize rubbing and uneven weight distribution, preventing injury. It is also important for a dia- betic to have shoes with good air circulation, meaning a lot of diabetic footwear features fabric or sandal-style uppers. Some things to look for in good shoe designs for diabetics are: • Deep and wide designs that allow room for custom made orthotics or customized insoles • Designs with no interior seams (or covered seams) to prevent rubbing injuries • A roomy “toe box” to prevent pinching or squeezing of the toes • Elastic or easily adjustable fit, to prevent the diabetic shoe from sliding around on the feet • Rocker soled forefoot – a rocker sole will decrease the amount of flexing and pressure along the metatarsals (ball of foot) Your BioPed Pedorthist can complete a 60-second dia- betic risk assessment of your lower legs and feet. If you are diabetic, speak to your Family Doctor about professionally fit footwear and completing a 60-second diabetic risk assessment.

A common complication of diabetes is “peripheral neuropathy,” which causes loss of sensation (numbness) in the extremities.

Practices For The Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers’, Dr. Inlow and colleagues make several recommendations for diabetic patients both with and without neuropathy. They recommend all diabetic pa- tients should use ‘Profession- ally Fit footwear’. A footwear specialist such as a Canadian Certified Pedorthist will know exactly what features will work best for your foot, life- style and health conditions.

If this numbness occurs in the feet, it can be very danger- ous due to the amount of time, weight and friction we place on our feet every day. If peripheral neuropathy is com- bined with ill-fitting footwear, ulceration and foot injuries may occur, simply because the patient does not feel the injury until it is too late. Properly fitted diabetic shoes are very important in prevent- ing such injuries. In the ‘Best

It is very important for a diabetic to have their shoes custom fitted by a trained pro- fessional, since they may not be able to feel an improper fit, due to peripheral neuropa- thy. By ensuring proper fit and good air circulation, properly designed diabetic shoes and insoles prevent pressure ulcers, encourage good blood circulation, and allow the skin to breathe.

Diabetic shoes are often wider and deeper than

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