How Orthotics Help Diabetes-Related Foot Problems

People with diabetes face unique foot risks. The sustained high blood sugar that occurs due to diabetes harms circulation, leading to an increased risk of infection and slow-healing ulcers in the lower extremities. Diabetes can also damage nerves, causing sensation loss in the feet.

Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Leonard Greenwald of San Jose, California, ensures your feet get the support they need to stay healthy. If you’re living with diabetes, you can benefit from Dr. Greenwald’s comprehensive diabetic foot care.

Your foot care plan may include custom orthotic shoe inserts. How do orthotics stave off the harmful consequences for your feet? Here’s what you need to know.

Reducing pressure on diabetic feet

More than one-fifth of all diabetes patients suffer from foot-related complications. After receiving your diabetes diagnosis, take steps to preserve your foot health and prevent further issues from developing in your lower body.

One of the easiest ways to take care of diabetic feet is to pay more attention to pressure distribution. Areas of high pressure can lead to calluses, corns, or blisters, which can become more serious problems due to the negative effects of diabetes.

Changing your footwear to better support your feet is a great place to start. You may need to give up high heels, choose shoes with more sole protection, or change the material used for your insoles.

Custom orthotics provide extra support for your feet and ankles. These inserts come in several types and styles and work with your footwear to redistribute pressure, cushion sores, and keep your feet and ankles in the correct position. Orthotics keep you comfortable when walking or moving around and reduce overall stress on your feet.

Types of orthotics for diabetic foot care

Orthotics for diabetic foot care differ from standard orthotics in a few ways. For patients with diabetes, orthotics need to be extra soft and somewhat bulky, providing lots of cushion for your feet to prevent irritation and injury.

Orthotics like foot pads or shoe inserts intended for patients with diabetes focus more on materials for wicking away moisture. Fabrics with antibacterial characteristics provide increased protection from infection.

If your feet experience deformation from diabetes, orthotic inserts can help. Orthotics that support the patellar tendon often prove helpful for those living with diabetes.

Walking braces and ankle orthotics also have a place in diabetic foot care. This type of orthotic provides increased stability to your foot and ankle and continues the redistribution of pressure away from diabetic foot ulcers or other podiatry issues.

Getting your custom orthotics

You can buy orthotic inserts online or at the drugstore, but Dr. Greenwald’s custom orthotics benefit you more. Your custom orthotics are made specially for you, based on modeling of your foot shape, and are designed with your unique care needs in mind. 

Dr. Greenwald monitors the usefulness of your orthotics and recommends changes or updates as needed as part of your ongoing diabetic foot care. You also need regular check-ups to guard against infection or injury due to the effects of diabetes on your feet.

To find out more about how you could benefit from custom orthotics as a person living with diabetes, contact Dr. Greenwald. Schedule your appointment online or over the phone today.