Ill-fitting wide shoes for women can cause damage to the feet in people who have diabetes due to neuropathy. Neuropathy can cause loss of sensation in the feet which means the damage can go unnoticed.
If shoes are too narrow, tight or loose, they can cause blisters or ulcers which can be slow to heal and lead to infections. Therefore, it is important to have comfortable, correctly fitting shoes. Your podiatrist can advise you about this, but here are some tips:
- Beware of choosing shoes that are too tight as the increased pressure of tight shoes can make them feel the right size.
- Feet get larger and broader in older people, but many people often continue to buy the same size. One study showed that a third of the people surveyed said they took a different shoe size from the one they were wearing, probably due to the fact that shoes sizes vary from maker to maker.
- Before buying footwear, run your fingers inside to check for anything that may harm. Looks for styles that have minimal seaming to help prevent rubbing which could lead to foot sores.
- After buying a new pair of shoes, wear them for 2 hours at first, then inspect your feet for pressure marks or irritations. A hand mirror is useful to ensure that all parts of the feet can be examined. Gradually build up the wearing time.
Look for footwear with minimal seaming. Style shown: Alison from Cosyfeet