We are a Medicare participating Durable Medical Supply Company located in Seneca, SC. We specialize in diabetic shoes and inserts.

 

 

 Our products are designed to assist with these diabetes related conditions:

Diabetes Mellitus is a serious chronic condition of metabolism resulting in high blood glucose. The inability to secrete insulin or the inability for the insulin to act, or a combination of both, results in high blood glucose. High blood glucose may lead to blindness, heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and amputations.

Type 1 Diabetes - This type of diabetes accounts for 10% of the diabetic population. The body does not produce any insulin and daily insulin shots must be taken to stay alive.

Type 2 Diabetes - Also known as non insulin-dependent-diabetes, and accounts for the remaining 90%, here the body can not either make enough or properly use insulin. This is the far more common disease. It occurs most often in overweight people with poor diet and a lack of exercise.

More than 20% of hospital admissions related to diabetes are due to foot disease. 15% of diabetic patients will develop a foot ulcer during their lifetime. Typically, ulcers are most often associated with peripheral neuropathy leading to an insensate foot whereby the patient might not feel or detect pain. This loss of protective sensation combined with foot deformity and peripheral arterial disease could lead to ulceration, infection, gangrene and ultimately amputation.

In trying to determine appropriate footwear consideration should be made for the following:

1. Most importantly, shoes should fit correctly, not only in length but also in width. Ideally the upper part of the shoe known as the vamp should be designed to minimize the number of seams in the shoe that could cause abrasion or rubbing, ideally the upper should be seamless. The materials also need to be soft and if possible adaptive so that they can accommodate any changes in the volume of the foot during the course of the day.

2. Look for a depth shoe with a removable insole so that there is plenty of room for a diabetic insert should one be required. The insert should offer plenty of cushioning and be of a material that can mold to the foot for total contact to ensure equal weight distribution and minimize shear forces in the shoe. A depth shoe also allows for modifications that will help alleviate pressure points that may be at risk for ulceration.

3. The way a shoe is attached to the foot is also important. Look for a padded tongue where laces are used or consider a hook and loop closure commonly called a Velcro™ closure or touch closure. This type of closure can help in getting the shoe on and off where often tying laces can be a problem for some diabetics.

4. Shoes should be designed so that they can easily be modified should the need arise. Modifications could include medial and lateral stabilizers, sole and heel flares, scaphoid pads, metatarsal bars, rocker soles, full steel shanks, carbon fiber plates, along with a range of other improvised modifications dependent on the need of any given foot.