Diabetic Foot Care

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Tips on shoes and socks

• Wear shoes at all times to protect your feet from injury. Otherwise, if you have poor vision and less ability to detect pain, you may not notice minor cuts or bumps.
• Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes. Never buy shoes that do not fit properly, expecting the shoes to stretch with time. Nerve damage may prevent you from being able to sense pressure from improperly fitting shoes.
• Check the inside of your shoes for rough areas or torn pieces that can cause irritation.
• Change your shoes after 5 hours of wearing during the day to alternate pressure points.
• Avoid wearing thong sandals or stockings with seams that can cause pressure points.
• Wear clean dry socks or non-binding panty hose every day. Socks may provide an additional layer of protection between the shoe and your foot.
• Wear socks to bed if your feet are cold. In cold weather, wear warm socks and limit your exposure to the cold to prevent frostbite.