As online shopping spree staggers, the temptation to purchase fashionable and stylish looking shoes, ignoring proper orthotic ones are growing. Podiatrists, while referring to wearing wrong shoes for diabetic patients, use the term “shoe-i-cide!”
Diabetic patients have a vulnerable pair of feet and the effects of this chronic illness slowly showcase themselves on this region of the human body – our base of strength, our feet. So it is a medical practitioners’ advice to choose the correct footwear for those having diabetes. Falling short of foot care and footwear can prove to be fatal in diabetes. Failing to execute suggested foot care and wearing wrong shoes can lead diabetes patients to foot ulcers. Ulcers are painful and potentially severe. They can sometimes lead to amputation. Thus it is important to check your feet daily and choose your shoes wisely.
Types of Shoes that are Inappropriate
Here are the general problems associated with choosing the wrong shoes.
- Tight Pointed-tip High Heel Shoes
High heels can cause everything from ankle sprains to chronic pain in heels, knees, back, and shoulders. People who wear high heels regularly, have stiffer and thicker Achilles tendons than those who do not wear heels. High heels can lead to:
a) Painful swelling at the back of the heels which is called a pump bump.
b) Wrong shoes put stress on the ball of the foot and on the joints of the smaller toes causing strain and pain.
c) All High Heel or pointed shoes run the risk of a grave ankle injury, even fracture. Severe pain can cause injuries in ligaments too.
d) While we stand barefoot, our body weight passes through foot joints and spine via a fixed axis called the weight-bearing axis. This axis changes when one chooses a high heel and compels the spine to bend forward to maintain the center of gravity, thereby causing low back pain and spinal deformity.
e) Pain on the lower surface of the heel due to a disease called plantar fasciitis is common in women wearing high heels.
- Ballet Flats
Wearing complete flats, even without the slightest heels, is like walking on cardboard. There is no arch support and it hinders the foot joints to work optimally.
- Flip Flops
These shoes offer very little protection. The hazard of getting splinters or other foot injuries is much more when the feet are so exposed. Diabetic patients should not wear flip-flops, because simple cuts and scrapes can lead to severe complications.
Choosing Right-sized Shoes:
If you have not measured your right shoe size for a while, it is high time you plan a visit to the nearby shoe-store, especially if you are diabetic. Wearing shoes that are ill-fitted and wrong-sized can be fatal. A UK study has shown that only 6 out of 10 people have a clear concept of a what a properly fitted shoe is and this does not essentially mean a tightly fitted shoe.
Below are the tips to Pick the Right Size:
- Ask the salesperson in the store to measure both the length and breadth of your feet to ensure a good fit. Choose footwear with a spacious “toe box,” so that toes have plenty of wiggle room. There should be half an inch space between the tip of the big toe and the end of the shoe.
- Toes should not be clinched together to avoid corns, calluses, and blisters that can turn into fatal foot ulcers.
- If the shoe has a removable insole, take it out and step on it. Your foot should fit comfortably on it with no overlap. The insole should be well padded and soft to have enough shock absorption on impact. Rough or hard insoles can cause a lot of pain. The insole should also be shaped according to the shape of the sole of the foot. You can always use a separate orthotic insole custom made for you.
- It is generally endorsed to have a shoe with a small heel of about half an inch. It should be a continuous raise towards the heel and not an abrupt heel. Shoes that have lace, buckle, velcro or similar strapping mechanism will provide more support to the arch.
So make an appointment with the CuraFoot NOW and grab the perfect diabetic footwear to take care of your feet and stand tall.
