Keep Your Shoes On
Once you find shoes that fit well, wear them all the time. Don't go barefoot, even around your own house. "Some patients, when they are numb, may walk on a piece of glass and not be aware of it," says UCLA podiatric surgeon Robert K. Lee, DPM.
Podiatrists suggest that people with diabetes even put on shoes if they take a few steps to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. There's always a chance you could step on something, not feel it, and injure yourself.
Enjoy Occasional Fancy Feet
Having diabetes doesn't always mean you're limited to sensible, comfortable footwear every day for the rest of your life.
"The need for being careful depends on how advanced the neuropathy is," says Lee. "The risks vary significantly depending on how advanced the disease is and how numb or how bad circulation is." If you have normal sensation and circulation, it may be OK to wear normal shoes -- even dressy shoes like high heels or pointy wingtips -- for short periods of time, says Lee.
Check with your podiatrist for advice about your particular case.
