Key Takeaways:
- Custom orthotics reduce pressure. They can help protect diabetic feet by redistributing pressure away from areas where calluses, sores, and ulcers may develop.
- Orthotics are only part of prevention. Daily foot checks, properly fitting shoes, and regular podiatric exams remain important for preventing diabetic foot complications.
- Each pair is customized. Dr. Jason Wilks evaluates your feet and gait before designing your orthotics.
When you have diabetes, small foot problems can become serious faster than you might expect. The right inserts help relieve pressure on sensitive areas, but they work best when paired with simple habits such as checking your feet daily, wearing well-fitting shoes, and keeping up with regular exams.
But not just any off-the-shelf insoles will do. At Wilks Advanced Foot Care, Dr. Jason Wilks has spent more than 25 years treating diabetic foot wounds in Roseburg.
His experience indicates just how much easier it is to protect your feet early than to heal a wound after the skin has already broken down. One solution is with custom medical orthotics designed specifically for diabetic feet. Here’s what you should know.
Table of Contents
Why Do Ulcers Form on Diabetic Feet?
A foot wound rarely happens for no reason. It usually follows a chain of events that starts in the nerves and ends in your skin.
Nerve Damage Hides the Warning Signs
Peripheral neuropathy dulls sensation, so a crooked sock seam, a blister, or a pebble in your shoe can go unnoticed for hours. The skin keeps breaking down—but you don’t feel anything. That is why an injury that would stop most people in their tracks can become an open wound before anyone notices.
Repeated Pressure Does the Damage
When you’re managing diabetes, foot calluses form faster because certain areas of the sole bear more weight. The American Diabetes Association notes that thick calluses can break down into open sores and that ulcers most often appear on the ball of your foot and under the big toe. A deformity, such as a bunion or hammer toe, concentrates even more pressure on a small area. Poor circulation then slows healing.
How Do Custom Orthotics for Diabetic Feet Protect Your Skin?
Dr. Wilks starts with a precise orthotic evaluation and fitting. He examines your feet, ankles, and gait, captures a precise image of each foot, and designs the device to match your contours. The goal is to spread your weight over a larger area, cushion bony points, and correct movement patterns that overload one spot.
Because every foot carries load differently, two people with the same diagnosis need different devices—which is why simply buying a retail insole won’t have the same effect. Generic inserts add cushioning but aren’t built for your exact structure, which is why store-bought insoles fall short when pressure points or deformities are involved.
While no insert removes risks entirely, international guidelines recommend pressure-relieving custom footwear and insoles for people at higher risk of ulcers. The benefit depends on wearing them every day, though. A pair left in the closet protects nothing. Feet and shoes both change over time, so it’s worth having your custom devices rechecked periodically.
Who Should Consider Custom Orthotics for Diabetic Feet?
Dr. Wilks decides case by case, but several situations raise the case for medically-designed inserts:
- Reduced sensation from neuropathy.
- Bunions, hammer toes, flat feet, or high arches.
- Calluses or corns that keep coming back.
- A previously healed foot ulcer.
- Shoes that no longer fit comfortably.
As the two of you work together to ensure you have the best diabetic foot care, insoles may be yet another solution he recommends to improve your health.
Do Insurance and Medicare Cover Medical Orthotic Inserts?
Custom orthotics for diabetic feet from the office are typically self-pay. However, Medicare Part B separately covers therapeutic shoes and inserts for people with diabetes and severe diabetes-related foot disease. The doctor who treats your diabetes must certify the need, and the supplier must be enrolled in Medicare. Dr. Wilks and his team can explain how each route works for your situation. Wilks Advanced Foot Care also backs custom orthotics with a six-month satisfaction guarantee.