How do you care for diabetic shoes? Storing diabetic shoes on a shoe tree may lengthen their lifespan. Not everyone can afford two pairs of diabetic shoes, but if you can, it's always best to alternate them...
Not everyone can afford two pairs of diabetic shoes, but if you can, it's always best to alternate them so they can air out. Also, using a cedar shoe tree will help the shoes retain their shape, and it will absorb the moisture. Each day before you put your shoes on, you should put your hands in them to make sure there are no loose materials or seams wearing out and to make sure there are no loose items like pebbles that would cause a blister. Diabetics should check once or twice a day for any red spots on their feet to make sure their socks are not wrinkled or that their shoes are not causing irritation. If any is found, they should consult their doctor.
The government allows you to get one pair of shoes on an annual basis under the Medicare program. Some people can wear their shoes a lot longer than that, and some people wear them a lot less. Since a diabetic should never walk around barefooted, diabetic shoes tend to wear out in nine months to a year. After a year, the shoe may look fine on the outside, but it may have lost its internal shape or support causing it not to protect your foot the way it did when it was new.
