How do you measure for diabetic shoes and inserts? Diabetic shoes and inserts should be custom fitted for size, width, and deformity. There are two types of inserts. One type of insert is a prefabricated...
There are two types of inserts. One type of insert is a prefabricated heat-moldable insert. The shoe fitter will actually heat the insert and mold it to the patient's foot. The second type of insert is a custom insert where the shoe fitter will take an impression of the patient's foot, send it to a lab, and the lab will make multi-density plasters of inserts for the patient.
When measuring for diabetic shoes you want the patient standing on a measuring device. The measuring device would measure the length of the foot from the heel to the longest toe and the width at the widest part. Many manufacturers have a single base allowing for different widths and more material around the top. It's very important when fitting the diabetic shoe to make sure to fit it without it being too tight or too loose. If there is any discrepancy, you want to have the ability to try a different size.
Diabetic shoes are available in medium wide, extra wide, and in many companies, extra-extra wide. Typically, a diabetic patient is heavier than an average patient. Department stores may only carry medium width shoes. What we find are patients wearing a regular 10 wide when they actually need an 8 extra-extra wide.
There are two or three companies that make custom shoes, because there are some patients with such deformed feet that the regular shoe may not be the best for them. The average person may be off by half a size between the right and left foot. That probably doesn't mean they use two different sizes. When some one been using two vastly different sizes their whole life, we would provide two different sized shoes. If there is a deformity that a normal shoe can't accommodate, the provider may take a cast of the patient's foot so shoes can be custom cut for that patient.
Buying diabetic shoes over the internet or by mail order with a fitting kit is really not a very good idea. The most important part of the diabetic program is being fitted by a qualified provider who has experienced fitting diabetic shoes and providing the custom inserts to go along with it.
