Choosing Shoes For Diabetics

Although this blog essentially revolves around diabetic socks, there is only so much that can be said about them. Sure you can do a few reviews, like Dr. Scholl's Diabetic Socks, and trust me I plan on doing more of them, but there is only so much information that you can provide on such a small topic. This is why today we are going to branch off and talk about something else that relates to diabetic foot issues. Aside from diabetic socks, those of you out there who have developed foot problems due to this disease may want to take a look at shoes for diabetics. We will go over a few facts about diabetic shoes and how they may help you steer clear of certain foot related health issues that are all so common with diabetics. Many of these benefits are quite similar to those you would gain from the use of diabetic socks and some are quite different.

For example, there are certain reasons why it is common for a diabetic to have problems with their lower limbs, mostly due to blood flow issues. Whether there isn't enough blood circulating to keep the muscles and flesh properly oxygenated or blood pooling, a problem that occurs when there is too much blood in a certain part of the body, in this case the feet. It stands to reason that diabetic shoes would help to resolve these issues, just like a pair of diabetic socks would. The difference lies mostly in the way the products are made. Obviously a pair of shoes aren't made the same way that socks are and vice versa. This means that diabetic shoes will need to accommodate the needs of diabetics in a different way. The other difference you will notice will be in the price. If diabetic socks are slightly more expensive than regular cotton socks, you be can sure that shoes for diabetics will be more expensive than an average pair of shoes. Are these diabetic shoes worth a little extra money? Well, only you can answer that question. All I can do is provide a few facts about these products and allow you to make your own choice. I will tell you that, as long as you buy from a reputable manufacturer, that these are high quality shoes and will aid diabetic related foot problems, just about as much as a pair of shoes can.

OK, lets start off with a few details. What exactly are shoes for diabetics? What separates this type of product from a regular old pair of shoes or sneakers? What makes diabetic shoes worth spending that extra hard earned money? As I said before, you will need to make up your own mind about shoes for diabetics. What I will say is, before you can truly understand why diabetic shoes can be beneficial to those with this severe health issue, you should first know why there are so many foot related problems that are associated with diabetes and what causes them. Earlier in this article I stated that, with diabetics, there are two main that relate to the feet, either to an over abundance of blood or a lack of blood, both of which are caused by poor circulation. These problems can lead to blood pooling, sores, and even amputation. What makes this even worse is that due to the poor blood flow, there will often be nerve damage in the feet. This means that the person may not even be able to feel any pain in their limbs, allowing the problem to worsen unnoticed. Why do diabetics have such poor blood circulation? Peripheral Vascular Disease. Peripheral Vascular Disease causes the arteries in the lower extremities to narrow which prohibits the proper amount of oxygenated blood to reach the lower legs and feet. Because the complications of the disease are so terrible, it makes sense to be a bit proactive about preventing them.

There you have it, the reason why diabetics are so prone to severe foot problems, but how does this relate to shoes for diabetics? Shoes for diabetics are specifically made to reduce the risk of foot injury. This is accomplished in two different ways. There are shoes that are made with a deeper, wider and softer lining and shoes that are custom made. Diabetic depth shoes are generically made for anyone's foot. There built in a way that deters friction and other common causes of foot injury in diabetics. Custom shoes on the other hand are specifically made for your feet. They will mold to your feet perfectly and make it much less likely for you to irritate your feet. Which one of these shoes is better? In my personal opinion the custom diabetic shoe will not only feel much more comfortable but also work much better as a diabetic shoe. What do I mean by this? A shoe that is molded to your own foot will obviously feel much more comfortable. It's not only the comfort factor but also the fact that there will be less chance of injury because the product was built just for you and is specifically shaped to your feet. What is the down side to a custom pair of diabetic shoes? The price of course, if your are going to have a pair of shoes custom made, you will have to pay quite a bit extra for them. Diabetic depth shoes will still help you to avoid diabetic related foot problems much more successfully than a generic pair of shoes but not as well as a pair of custom shoes. On the other hand depth shoes will be considerably cheaper than their counter parts. So you see you now have two choices to make. You now have to make the choice on whether or not you will buy a pair of shoes for diabetics and if you do choose to, you will need to decide on what kind you want.

I can now assume that you are well informed about exactly what a pair of diabetic shoes are and the two different types of diabetic shoes that are available to you. You also know why these shoes could be helpful to you if you suffer from diabetes. We have discussed why diabetics are so prone to these types of foot problems and how dangerous they can be. This is all of the information that I can provide to you. It is now time to move on to the second part of this article, a few examples of some diabetic shoes.

This information was found on Google. The shopping part of the site allows you to search for products by user reviews. This makes separating the good products from the bad much easier. It comes in especially handy when dealing with an unfamiliar product such as diabetic shoes. I will list the top four diabetic shoes listed and their price but you can try this yourself to get even more results.

Apex Aetrex Mens Performance Walker - $97

What makes this shoe stand out from the crowd? Extra dense wrap around heel counter, this will help to keep the foot stable. Patented anti-shock orthotic, aka shock absorption, this is removable by the way. Extra under sole to help conform the shoe to your foot. Extra wide toe area, to help avoid friction. Moisture reduction, this will keep your feet dry and help to avoid sores and friction. Slip resistant sole, this benefit is obvious.

Apex Aetrex Women's Performance Walker - $95

This shoe provides the same benefits as the one made for men only it is two dollars cheaper.

Brown Classic Lace Ambulator Biomechanical Woman's Diabetic Shoe - $107

This shoe comes with the new and improved "smart grip" slip resistant polyurethane sole, a half inch removable depth layer, extra soft lining which will also provide air flow to keep your feet dry and an anti shock foot bed.

P.W. Minor Strap to Toe Shoe - $245

This diabetic shoe is made with Velcro for ease of use. Specially made with improved air flow and bacterial absorption. It is a bit over priced if you ask me.

These are just a few examples of the shoes for diabetics that you may find on the market. If you would like to view the full list of shoes in order of user satisfaction, you will find it here... Google's Diabetic Sock Search.

Are diabetic shoes right for you? You decide, but take solace in the fact that you are well informed of their benefits and how they might help you avoid diabetic related health problems that revolve around your feet.

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