Diabetics Need Proper Footwear, Even at Home: MD Podiatrist
Correct footwear is essential to one’s diabetes toolkit. “Elevation of sugar levels in the body leads to breakdown of the nerve endings and the blood vessels,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. This becomes especially prevalent in the feet, since they are the furthest extremity from the heart and spine. Decreased nerve endings means less feeling in the toes and feet.
According to Dr. Michaels, wearing proper footwear, even at home, is an important preventative step for diabetics. “Diabetics should never be barefoot,” he emphasizes. “They often don’t know what they are on stepping on, and they don’t feel it properly. The bottom line is, each surface potentially could lead to a pressure, tear, and an infection, which becomes potentially a huge problem.”
