When diabetes affects feeling in the feet, a shoe can cause a problem without the warning pain you would normally expect. Footwear is one part of protecting your skin, alongside daily checks and professional follow-up.
Look inside as well as outside
Check the inside of a shoe for a rough seam, worn lining or an object that could rub. Look at your feet before and after wearing it. New redness, a blister or a mark that persists deserves attention even if it does not hurt. Avoid going barefoot, including indoors, when reduced sensation puts you at risk.
Fit is more than a size on the box
Toe room, width, fastening and the shape of the upper affect pressure. Do not assume a shoe that once fitted still fits after swelling or other changes. Bring everyday shoes, work footwear and current orthotics to an assessment so the discussion reflects what you actually wear.
What information helps?
- A history of foot ulcers, surgery or previous shoe-related wounds.
- Any numbness, burning, swelling or change in walking.
- How long you stand or walk in each pair of shoes.
- Whether you can see and reach your feet comfortably.
The clinician can examine your skin, sensation and circulation and discuss an appropriate plan. Not every patient needs the same footwear or the same review interval.
A wound changes the priority
Seek same-day advice for a new wound, drainage or a hot, red, swollen foot. Do not keep wearing a shoe over a sore area while waiting for a routine footwear appointment. Fever, rapidly spreading redness or dark tissue needs urgent medical attention.
Build a practical routine
Our diabetic foot care page explains the assessment, and our daily foot-check guide can help you prepare questions. Locke provides chiropody care at the Hamilton and Stoney Creek offices.
Source: NIDDK: Diabetes and foot problems.
General information, not an individual diagnosis or treatment plan.