Preventative foot care is essential for people who live with diabetes. Perhaps the most important part of this preventative care is the shoes you wear.  While the rest of us may suffer through a night in six-inch heels, or force our feet into uncomfortable hiking boots, diabetics should not put up with foot pain, no matter how minor it seems at the time.  Calluses, corns, blisters, scrapes or other minor foot injuries can all lead to serious foot infections or foot ulcers.Several brands have developed shoes particularly designed for diabetics.  These shoes tend to provide the foot with considerable padding and a high-density sole designed to absorb shock.  Diabetic shoes should give you a “soft fit” – the fabric of the shoe should be smooth against your foot without seams or other features that could lead to blisters or hot spots. Many of them are designed to accommodate removable inserts, or are fastened with Velcro so that you can easily adjust the shoe’s size.  The upside is that diabetic shoes should be incredibly comfortable!  The downside is that they may not be as stylish as you would like. (I don’t know about you, but I’d say Velcro shoes went out of style somewhere around the 5th grade.)  They are not exactly the kind of shoes you want to put on when getting ready for a big night out. Luckily several well-respected brands of diabetic shoes have developed diabetic dress shoes that will protect your feet and look good while doing it.  Check out the “Trinket”, designed by PW Minor.  This dress shoe provides extra depth in the toe region and also has an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial brushed knit that lines the toe box.  Or look for the “Angie” from Drew Shoes, which has a removable insole and a steel shank that provides first-rate support.  Instead of Velcro, this shoe closes with a subtle black zipper on the side.  But like Velcro, the zipper can be adjusted to accommodate the swelling of the feet. For men, try the “Comfort Street” produced by Acor.  This good-looking shoe is made from a stretchable material that changes shape and size with your foot.  It is lined with a fiber called X-Static®, which contains a layer of silver (an effective anti-microbial element).  Another good option for men is PW Minor’s dress shoe known as “Sir”.  This shoe has an extra deep toe box and is made from soft leather that requires no time to break-in.  The ¾ inch wedge heel promotes stability, and the shoe comes with a removable insole that allows you to adjust the shoe’s size.

My podiatrist wants me to get a pair of Birkenstocks to help with chronic foot pain. Looking through Ebay last night, I noticed that there are several types of them. Is there a kind that is better than another, or do they all have the same type of footbed? I really need serious advice on this topic. I dont want to spend a fortune on a pair of shoes that are not the right type. Thanks!!

Heel and arch pain can be a nuisance for anyone especially if you enjoy an active lifestyle.

Arch pain, also referred to as arch strain, is an inflammation or burning sensation at the arch of the foot. The arch is formed by a high band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes.

Heel pain can be either, pain behind the heel or pain beneath the heel. When the tissue of the foot becomes irritated and inflamed, even simple movements can be quite painful.
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Comfort is normally associated with sandals. While you might not think someone would purposely buy a pair of uncomfortable shoes, it is very common for people to withstand agonizing foot pain for the sake of “looking good.” The idea of comfortable sandals is not new, but at one time there was a stigma associated with shoes that were labeled “comfortable”. Basically, these shoes tended to lack widespread appeal. That has now all changed. Brands of sandals that are well-known for comfort also pass the fashion test.

Dansko

Dansko’s philosophy, “We think about your feet so you don’t have to”, accurately sums up what has made this shoe company a major contender in brands of comfortable sandals. What was once a Danish clog has been redesigned into some of the most popular sandals for comfort and style. The typical Dansko sandal is lightweight, made to move naturally with the foot, and enhanced with natural materials. Many Dansko sandals have received a stamp of approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association. Dansko, Inc. has only been in business since 1991, but ships its shoes to more than 3,000 stores. Dansko sandals all have the clog base, but are available in strappy, slides, and thong styles.

Born

Visit the Born website and you may feel that you’ve fallen into a Vogue magazine spread. The artistic edge of Born sandals is evident, but the shoe company doesn’t sacrifice style for comfort. What makes Born sandals so special in terms of comfort? The company developed a technique of making shoes called Opanka that results in sandals that are both soft and resilient. Each and every sandal that Born makes is built using some form of the Opanka technique. Adjustable straps are also a common comfort feature of Born sandals.

Birkenstock

The Birkenstock history spans from footbed insert making to being probably the oldest makers of comfortable sandals. Within the time that it has existed, the Birkenstock company has always made comfort a significant focus of its operation. The company entered the sandal market in the early 1980s when it developed and patented its first pair of thong sandals. With thick soles that are made of cork and natural latex and an adjustable two-strap buckle, Birkenstock sandals have a style that easily recognizable. In short, get to the “bottom” of this sandal and you will discover a sandal that is designed to take care of your feet.

For years podiatrists have been maligning the flip flop sandal as a cause of many common foot problems. In fact, multiple articles have been published about the dangers encountered in the current flip-flop phenomenon. Still, most teenagers and young adults spend more time in flip-flop sandals then any other shoes.

Engineers in the UK launched the

The rising popularity of flip flop sandals and Crocs shoes, as well as a few well-publicized incidents, has increased awareness of escalator injuries in children in the United States. These two types of shoe gear have been lumped together as increasing risks, but is this a truly fair assessment? What is the truth about the risks involving our children and escalators? Is awareness enough to protect our children? Do the shoes our children wear on escalators matter? Should we all be taking the stairs or the elevator? As a physician and mother of three small girls, I am concerned about escalators and our children.

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