Posted by Administrator on 4/11/2013 to
Shoe Tech
In other articles on this blog we’ve discussed the features that make special shoes especially beneficial for diabetics (see “What Are Diabetic Shoes”). It’s important to understand that to get the full benefit diabetic shoes offer, consumers should consider wearing them together with diabetic socks and/or diabetic shoe inserts.

Diabetic Inserts provide better support and protection for diabetic feet than the inserts typically offered as “standard equipment” in shoes today. To be defined as “Diabetic” a shoe insert must have a layer of moldable material. The material of choice used by many manufacturers is called “Plastizote®”. With the application of heat this material can be molded to match the contours of the bottom of the wearer’s foot. By matching the foot’s contours, the insert ensures a more even distribution of pressure across the entire surface of the foot. This reduces or eliminates high-pressure points which could develop around prominent bones or deformities. Matching the foot’s contours also allows the insert to
minimize shearing or the sliding of the foot inside the shoe. Such shearing could abrade the foot and cause serious injury. The best diabetic inserts include a second layer of firmer, non-user-moldable foam that helps stabilize ad support the foot. Medicare has established other guidelines for thickness and hardness of diabetic inserts. Inserts approved as diabetic inserts are coded as “A5512” for reimbursement by Medicare for qualified patients. Studies have shown that the risk of injury to the bottom of a diabetic’s feet can be significantly reduced by using diabetic inserts.

It’s clear that the benefits of wearing diabetic shoes are enhanced by the use of diabetic socks and diabetic inserts. Each component offers specific benefits, but when combined and worn together as a three-part wellness system they perform even better.