In the U.S. , 23.6 million people suffer from diabetes.1 Foot wounds can be one of the most debilitating complications of diabetes, affecting 25% of diabetic patients over a lifetime.2 Diabetic foot ulcer treatments have an annual cost of $1.5 billion to the Medicare system.3 There is a 10 times higher rate of amputation for diabetics than for non-diabetics,4 with 85 percent of amputations preceded by a non-healing foot ulcer.

Most insurance companies recognize the threat diabetes poses to feet and therefore offer diabetic shoe and custom inserts as a covered benefit. If you are diabetic and your doctor determines that you meet one of the following secondary conditions below, you may be eligible for diabetic shoes and inserts.

• Poor circulation in either foot, or
• History of pre-ulcerative calluses of either foot, or
• Foot deformity of either foot, or
• Peripheral neuropathy with evidence of callus formation of either foot, or
• History of previous foot ulceration of either foot, or
• Previous amputation of the other foot, or part of either foot

Diabetic shoes, sometimes referred to as extra depth or therapeutic shoes, are specially designed shoes or inserts intended to reduce the risk of skin breakdown in diabetics with co-existing foot disease.

People with decreased feeling in their feet may have a false sense of security as to how much at risk their feet actually are. An ulcer under the foot can develop in a couple of hours. The primary goal of therapeutic footwear is to prevent complications, such as: strain, ulcers, calluses, or even amputations for patients with diabetes and poor circulation. In addition to meeting strict guidelines, diabetic shoes must be prescribed by a physician and fit by a qualified individual, such as a certified pedorthist. The shoes must also be equipped with a removable orthotic. Foot orthotics are devices such as shoe inserts, arch supports, or shoe fillers such as lifts, wedges and heels. The diabetic shoes and customized insoles work together as a preventative system to help diabetics avoid foot injuries and improve mobility.4

1. 1 Center for Disease Control. National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/factsheet.htm [accessed online]
2. 2 Singh N, Armstrong DG, Lipsky BA. Preventing foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. JAMA. 2005 Jan 12;293(2):217-28. Review.
3. 3 Mayfield JA, Reiber GE, Sanders LJ, Janisse D, Pogach LM. Preventive foot care in people with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1998 Dec;21(12):2161-77. Review.
4. 4 http://www.ssdsupplies.com/faq.php