There are shoes made for diabetics, did you know?   There are walking shoes, and even socks, made to help correct or prevent foot problems.  Having diabetes can lead to nerve damage, referred to as neuropathy, and poor blood circulation in the feet.  

Other common foot problems are:
Hammertoes
Calluses
Blisters
Ingrown toenails
Bunions
Corns
Ulcers (sores) that will not heal

If left untreated, more severe foot problems can occur in the feet of a diabetic.  One such problem is charcot foot, where the joints collapse and the foot shape is peculiar.  This happens because the bones are weakened enough that they fracture.  When nerve damage affects the hands, arms, and legs, it is called diabetic peripheral neuropathy.  This nerve damage encompasses the sensory nerves (pain, sensation, temperature), motor nerves (muscle toners), and autonomic nerves (your involuntary functions).

Diabetic shoes are based on each person’s foot shape.

Custom fitting is the main objective when acquiring a pair of shoes for a diabetic.  With each pair of shoes, you will find two sets of removeable insoles and orthotics.  Because everyone’s feet are different, these orthotics are usually heat-molded to the shape of each foot.  Such shoes have extra-depth with layered insoles, increased width, extra-large toe boxes, genuine leather, and a high degree of support.  These one-of-a-kind fitted shoes aim to offer all day comfort to the diabetic patient.

Why do diabetics need special shoes?

If you are a diabetic, here are some things you should look for in a shoe:
Joint movement is restricted: this will help you with foot swelling and pain, as well as increase your foot stability and functionality.
Shock and Shear Elimination – shock is when you have great downward pressure on your feet; shear is when your feet have too much sideways movement.
Fit your feet closely – when it conforms to your feet, they will help you avoid foot pain as well as damage to your feet from such diabetic conditions as loss of toes, hammertoes, or loss of fatty tissue.
Helps relieve foot pressure caused by tight shoes, rigid stitching, or irregular bone placement.  Such pressure can lead to ulcers or skin breakdown.
Be spacious – no part of your foot should rub the inside of the shoe when you walk.   There should be a 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch space between the end of the shoe and the longest toe. The base of your toes should be at the widest part of the shoe.

Final Notes

Even if a diabetic has no foot pain, his/her doctor may recommend that he/she wears special shoes before problems develop later.  Wearing shoes made from soft material with a shock-absorbing sole is probably ok for newly-diagnosed diabetics with no foot pain.

Look at the way the shoe fits, rather than the size of the shoe.  As with clothes, shoe sizes will vary by brand and by geographic location where they were made.  Even shoes marked the same size will not BE the same size.