Have you heard of diabetic shoes? I know you have heard about orthotics, but those are for old people, not me, right?  Well, thanks to our diverse English language where five words mean the same thing, diabetic shoes are orthotics (all diabetic shoes are orthotics but not all orthotics are diabetic shoes). Our society developed this terminology as an alternative to orthotics because people suffering from medical complications should not need to be made to feel inferior by using the term orthotics but now, you may be thinking, “I don’t have diabetes so why do I care about orthotics/diabetic shoes?” To answer your question, please read the following very closely.

According to the CDC, 30.3 million people of all ages have diabetes mellitus in the United States, that’s equal to 9.4% of our population. Of those 30.3 million, 23.1 million people are aware of their diagnosis and are taking necessary steps to live a long and healthy life, while 7.2 million have diabetes but have not been diagnosed yet. Those people are at greater risk of complications due to simple cuts and scrapes on their feet, which is where my blog post comes in handy.

7.2 million people have diabetes but have not been diagnosed yet.

We all know that sneakers have been around for a very long time….since 1892 when Keds developed the first ‘sneaker’. We all believe they are comfortable to wear and protect our feet from the dangers of the open road, but did you know there is a big difference between the typical athletic shoe and diabetic shoes?

The typical shoe is made in masses and distributed for the world to buy based on the general comfort of the majority of world’s population and/or fashionable designs. Diabetic shoes are custom made from the insole to the outer stitching to ensure the fit is perfect and custom to your foot and your health needs. Whereas, diabetic shoes have a higher and more flexible toe box for circulation and friction control, moldable soles, a wider fit to reduce the chances of blistering and aid in circulation and more depth for added stability. Custom made diabetic shoes are made from impressions of your feet coupled with several measurements to ensure the mold will fit your foot like a second skin. This perfect fit will provide all of the stability and protection your ailing feet require.

In addition to meeting strict guidelines, diabetic shoes must be fitted by a certified individual, such as an orthotist, podiatrist, pedorthist, or a therapeutic shoe fitter such as the three we have on staff at Watkins Pharmacy & Surgical Supply.

The good news, you can wear diabetic shoes even if you don’t have diabetes. This shoe design is very beneficial to patients with arthritis, Morton’s neuroma, Plantar Fasciitis, hammertoes, in addition to many other foot disorders. You also won’t need a prescription to get custom fit shoes to protect your feet and your lifestyle.

If you do have a foot condition that requires custom fit shoes and you have a prescription from your doctor we can work together to get your shoes covered by your insurance. Most insurance companies will allow one pair of shoes and three pairs of custom molded inserts per year.

Most insurance companies will

allow 1 pair of shoes

and 3 pairs of molded inserts

per year.

So, what is required of you to get your first pair of custom fit orthotics diabetic shoes? First of all, visit your doctor to get a prescription for shoes with a qualifying diagnosis, such as we discussed earlier. Stop into Watkins Pharmacy & Surgical Supply to speak with any one of our Customer Service Representatives to find out if your insurance will cover the costs and fill out the required paperwork. Next, we will set up an appointment for the initial fitting; it will usually take about 45 minutes to get all of your measurements and impressions. Finally, we wait for your shoes to be made so we can do the final fitting. The entire process can take up to three months from your first visit to our store until you are walking in custom comfort.

Stop into Watkins Pharmacy & Surgical Supply to see our shoe collections by Tenderfeet and Dr. Comfort. While you are here stop at the front desk to speak with our Customer Service Representatives to find out if your insurance will cover the costs for your diabetic shoes.

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