shop smart
Since shoes break down over
time, take inventory every six
to 12 months. How do your feet
feel in the shoes? Have any parts
of the shoe worn down? Telltale
signs shoes need to go: they do
not feel as supportive, the heel
caves to one side or is worn
down, the forefoot shows
excessive wear, and the lining
is thinning or tearing. Walking
and jogging shoes should be
retired at 480-800km, or at
least every five months. When
you’re ready to hit the store,
keep these tips in mind.Look for foot-friendly
features
Start with a good supportive
sole. “Cushioned outer soles,like EVA soles on running shoes
or Vibram soles on some dress
shoes, are shock absorbent,”
says John Giurini, chief of
podiatry at Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center.
Opt for shoes made from
breathable material, such as
fabric or soft leather, and with
laces or Velcro, which let you
adjust the fit. A padded tongue
and collar (the rim around the
shoe) will cushion your feet and
ankles. If you have hammertoes
or Charcot joint, look for extra-
depth shoes to accommodate
these structural foot changes.
Giurini recommends steering
clear of rigid leather or rubber
shoes, and slip-on styles
such as loafers.Everyone needs good footwear.
But when you have diabetes, shoes
are about more than just fashion
It’s estimated up to 50 per
cent of people with diabetes
have peripheral neuropathy, a
type of nerve damage that affects
your ability to sense pain and hot
or cold temperatures. And, as
many as half may have no
symptoms. “Normally, if you have
a blister, you feel it and stop
wearing a certain shoe. But if you
don’t have sensation in your feet,
you may keep wearing the shoe
and walking on the area that’s
sore,” says Monara Dini, a
podiatrist in the Center for Limb
Preservation at UCSF Medical
Center. Those points can turn
into foot ulcers and cause
problems. The right shoes can
go a long way towards keeping
foot complications at bay.
8)&/UIF
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