Diabetic shoes????

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

I am looking for information on Diabetic shoes. My mom needs to get a pair. Where do they sell them? Does insurance cover any of the cost? Any other information I may need to know about these types of shoes would be appreciated. TIA

 

[danygirl]

they are usually wide with wider toe boxes, because if you have neropathy you can't feel your feet well enough to know if you are rubbing a blister. I see them advertised in diabetes magazines, but i wouldn't buy any without trying them on. I would imagine her foot doctor (and if she needs these shoes she should be seeing a foot dr regularly to to routine things like cut her toenails safely) should have some pamphlets. No idea if insurance covers them, seems like we all have to wear shoes and they wouldn't but it is worth calling and asking

 

[buckirj1]

My mom got her shoes through her podiatrist, and they were totally or mostly covered by Medicare.

 

[mommyburns]

I got a pair at the local "mom and pop" pharmacy, the one here has several buildings now one of which (it has all the mobility stuff, chairs, braces/wraps, cane, etc also has a section for medical shoes. I got them on clearance for about $35, I never asked about insurance because that is better than most retail spots for tennis shoes.

 

[Sadie22]

Medicare should pay for one pair a year, with several sets of insoles if needed, by prescription from the podiatrist, if your mom's covered by Medicare. If you want to get her another pair of the same, they may be available from another vendor for a reasonable price. My mother wore Dr. Comfort shoes with insoles which were heat molded to her foot. The uppers were made of a soft, stretchy material and came with Velcro closings or ties, depending on the needs of the patient.

I'm diabetic but I'm not old enough for Medicare. I do choose to wear styles of New Balance walking and running shoes with wide and deep toe boxes. They are eligible to be diabetic shoes but I haven't looked into getting any paid for by insurance as a diabetes supply.

All toenail care and callous care and the like for a diabetic can and probably should be handled by a podiatrist. Certainly when the patient is unable to do this for themselves, it's crucial. Mom's podiatrist made houses calls to her assisted living whenever she needed care. I'll be visiting her office before my next trip to WDW!

 

[akcire]

My FIL got his at SAS. They were via the podiatrist.

 

[CTdiznymom]

My mom also gets hers thru the podiatrist. Since she is diabetic they are fully covered by medicare. I believe she is able to get one pair a year.

 

[NYCDiane]

Medicare should pay for one pair a year, with several sets of insoles if needed, by prescription from the podiatrist, if your mom's covered by Medicare. If you want to get her another pair of the same, they may be available from another vendor for a reasonable price. My mother wore Dr. Comfort shoes with insoles which were heat molded to her foot. The uppers were made of a soft, stretchy material and came with Velcro closings or ties, depending on the needs of the patient.

I'm diabetic but I'm not old enough for Medicare. I do choose to wear styles of New Balance walking and running shoes with wide and deep toe boxes. They are eligible to be diabetic shoes but I haven't looked into getting any paid for by insurance as a diabetes supply.

All toenail care and callous care and the like for a diabetic can and probably should be handled by a podiatrist. Certainly when the patient is unable to do this for themselves, it's crucial. Mom's podiatrist made houses calls to her assisted living whenever she needed care. I'll be visiting her office before my next trip to WDW!

Which style of New Balance?? And do you get a wide width shoe? Or is it just that the toe box is wide/deep?

I have diabetic neuropathy as well and I recently discovered a large blister on my big toe. It can only be from the sneakers I was wearing.

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Yes she is on Medicare. Her primary care doctor is going to try and get her info on the shoes. She does not go to a podiatrist. Maybe I should look into getting her an appointment with one.

 

[Sadie22]

Which style of New Balance?? And do you get a wide width shoe? Or is it just that the toe box is wide/deep?

I have diabetic neuropathy as well and I recently discovered a large blister on my big toe. It can only be from the sneakers I was wearing.

I'm sorry about the neuropathy, NYCDiane.

I require a wide-width shoe because I have wide feet. All the guys in the family wear 4E but I wear 2E. I also need motion control and stability and a sturdy shoe as I am not a lightweight and I put a lot of miles on my shoes.

I went to a New Balance store for fitting. The style numbers I wear are in the 800s, 900s, and 1200-something. The less expensive consumer-grade shoes sold at Kohl's and Sears do not have the features I need. After I find a style I like, I will purchase additional pairs online, two or three pairs at a time. I got two pairs of 846s (a discontinued style) just before my last trip to Disney. They didn't need any breaking in.

I also wear New Balance socks as well as MediPeds diabetic socks. A smooth toe seam is very important for us.

 

[danygirl]

If she needs the special shoes she should be seeing a podiatrist.

if you have neuropathy, acupuncture does help. My dad gets it.

 

[Straitlover]

I just bought my mother a pair. She has chemo-induced neuropathy, not diabetic, so hers are not covered by Medicare. I got hers at a locally owned old school shoe store (the kind where you have a seat and they bring the shoes to you to try on ). These are the ones I got her in the taupe color:

http://www.amazon.com/P-W-Minor-Womens-Leisure-Diabetic/dp/B005P9SNDM

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

If she needs the special shoes she should be seeing a podiatrist.

if you have neuropathy, acupuncture does help. My dad gets it.

Danygirl. I talked to her this morning, she said that the Dr. said she has Neuropathy and Plantar Fasciitis. I am going to see what Dr.(Podiatrist) in my area accepts Medicare and make her an appointment.

I just bought my mother a pair. She has chemo-induced neuropathy, not diabetic, so hers are not covered by Medicare. I got hers at a locally owned old school shoe store (the kind where you have a seat and they bring the shoes to you to try on ). These are the ones I got her in the taupe color:

http://www.amazon.com/P-W-Minor-Womens-Leisure-Diabetic/dp/B005P9SNDM

Straitlover thanks for the link on the shoes that way I know what type of shoe we could be looking for. Sorry for your moms chemo induced neuropathy. Prayers for her and you..

 

[dizcrazee]

I get my diabetic shoes from Footsmart. I love them! Great online store.

http://www.footsmart.com/

 

[NYCDiane]

I'm sorry about the neuropathy, NYCDiane.

I require a wide-width shoe because I have wide feet. All the guys in the family wear 4E but I wear 2E. I also need motion control and stability and a sturdy shoe as I am not a lightweight and I put a lot of miles on my shoes.

I went to a New Balance store for fitting. The style numbers I wear are in the 800s, 900s, and 1200-something. The less expensive consumer-grade shoes sold at Kohl's and Sears do not have the features I need. After I find a style I like, I will purchase additional pairs online, two or three pairs at a time. I got two pairs of 846s (a discontinued style) just before my last trip to Disney. They didn't need any breaking in.

I also wear New Balance socks as well as MediPeds diabetic socks. A smooth toe seam is very important for us.

Thank you, Sadie22

Thanks for the info. I'll look for a New Balance store and get fitted. I know what you mean about having to have a certain grade shoe. I've been buying off the rack/online and nothing ever seems to fit me right. I even tried Ryka's --- they were comfortable but after a short time, it was the same old problem. Diabetics definitely need specialized footwear! (and I have diabetic neuropathy along with Plantar Fasciitis --- NOT a fun combo!!!)

Good info about the diabetic socks, too! I know that I stopped wearing socks because I couldn't stand the way they felt on my toes and and under the ball of my foot.