More than Just Footwear: Integrating Diabetic Shoes for Swollen Feet into Your Diabetic Care Plan - Canles (2024)

FAQs

Do diabetic shoes help with swelling? ›

They offer extra width and depth, giving your feet much-needed space, helping to ease the pain and swelling. Boosted Circulation: A good pair of diabetic shoes can improve circulation in your feet.

Swollen feet are a common symptom of diabetes. High blood sugar can affect your blood vessels, which can allow fluid to pool in your feet and ankles. It can also damage the nerves so you may not notice foot injuries. As your body tries to heal them, that can add to fluid build-up.

Diabetes can cause changes in the shape of your feet, leading to pressure points that might develop into sores or ulcers over time. Diabetic footwear is designed to distribute pressure evenly across the foot, reducing the risk of such problems. They usually have thicker soles and extra depth to achieve this.

Having diabetes is frequently associated with leg swelling due to multiple causes. Home remedies such as elevating your feet, exercising, and staying hydrated can sometimes help remedy swelling. Even so, it's important to talk with your doctor about any new or persistent swelling.

Get medical care as soon as possible if: You have unexplained, painful swelling of your feet or legs, particularly if it's only in one leg. The swollen area becomes warm, red or inflamed. The swelling is accompanied by a fever.

As mentioned above, diabetes is one of the main causes of edema and thus ankle swelling. That's because it has many direct and indirect effects on the body that can lead to fluid retention. As a diabetic, it is highly likely that the disease is the underlying cause or exacerbating factor of the swelling in your legs.

Foods that are regularly eaten such as processed, refined, and salted may increase the chances of developing swollen feet. Foods that are made with a large amount of sugar and fats such as vegetable oil may also be linked to having swollen feet.

Part B (Medical Insurance)

covers the furnishing and fitting of either of these each calendar year, if you have diabetes and severe diabetes-related foot disease: One pair of custom-molded shoes and inserts. One pair of extra-depth shoes.

What shoes should diabetics not wear? ›

Types of Shoes To Avoid

When shopping for shoes, it's best to avoid: High-heeled shoes because they put pressure on the ball of your foot. If you have nerve damage, you may not be aware of any aches or callus forming. Flip-flops and other open-toe shoes make your feet more vulnerable to injury.

No flip-flops or open-toed shoes: Flip-flops and open-toed shoes provide minimal protection and support. These types of footwear can increase the risk of injuries and infections. Don't rely solely on fashion: While fashion is important, prioritize function over style when choosing diabetic footwear.

Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) incidentally induce hypoglycemia, which is often seen in diabetic patients receiving sulphonylureas. NSAIDs influence various ion channel activities, thus they may cause hypoglycemia by affecting ion channel functions in insulin secreting beta cells.

When you have diabetes, high glucose levels in the blood can damage nerves and blood vessels. Because the nerves and blood vessels supplying the feet are so long and delicate, the feet — and especially the toes — often get affected first.

But that doesn't mean abdominal weight gain should be ignored. It can be an early sign of so-called "diabetic belly," a build-up of visceral fat in your abdomen which may be a symptom of type 2 diabetes and can increase your chances of developing other serious medical conditions.

Fit is especially important for people with diabetes who have poor circulation and experience swelling in the feet or legs. In that case, compression socks may be recommended. These are snug-fitting socks that promote blood flow. Compression socks should not be so tight that they impair circulation.

Tight-fitting shoes might cause swelling and aches in the ball and heel of your feet. Shoes with tight ankle support can lead to swollen ankles and reduced circulation.

Most shoe brands don't make sizes large enough to accommodate a swollen foot, and tight shoes that impair circulation is unfortunately a big reason why feet swell in the first place.

Breathable shoes are important for those with swollen feet as they can help ease swelling and cool the feet.