Diabetic Shoes FAQ

No cost to you! Medicare and most insurance companies will pay for one pair of diabetic shoes and three custom molded inserts per calendar year. On January 1st of every year, you will be eligible for another pair of shoes.

Maybe. It depends on what benefits your insurance policy covers. Please call (866)-923-2423.

The Therapeutic Shoe Bill was enacted by Congress in 1993 in order to provide proper footwear and inserts for people with diabetes who qualify under Medicare Part B benefits. According to the American diabetes Association (ADA), there are approximately 17 million Americans with diabetes, and twenty-five percent of those people will develop foot complications as a result of their disease. The Therapeutic Shoe Program was designed to help prevent lower limb ulcers, amputation, and other complications in people who are diagnosed with diabetes. Eligible beneficiaries qualify for one pair of shoes, plus extra pairs of inserts and/or shoe modifications per calendar year.

Yes, diabetic shoes come in the following sizes: Men's shoes range from size 6 to 16, with widths from Narrow to 5 Extra Wide. Women's shoes range from size 4 to 13, with widths from Narrow to 3 Extra Wide.

We currently have access to over 1,000 health care professionals throughout the United States who will fit you for shoes for free. Please fill out the following form to have a healthcare professional in your area to contact you.

To receive a catalog, click on the link below to request a copy.
Request catalog here.

A Board-Certified Pedorthist is an individual who has studied foot anatomy and pathology, biomechanics, shoe orthosis fabrication and materials, footwear fitting, and patient/practice management, and who abides by the Board for Certification in Pedorthics' Code of Ethics outlining responsibilities to the patient, the physician, the public and the profession.

Therapeutic Shoe: medically-indicated shoe that can be a medical-grade shoe, a depth shoe, or a custom shoe and is accommodative or functional. Therapeutic shoes are usually fit by a health professional specially trained in this type of fitting or by a certified pedorthists.

The following definitions have been taken directly from the United State's Medicare's Part B Medical Policy for Therapeutic shoes for Diabetics:

* Has a full length, heel-to toe filler that when removed

* Provides a minimum of 3/16 inch of additional depth used to

* Accommodate custom-molded or customized inserts

* Is made from leather or other suitable material of equal quality

* Has some form of closure(velcro, lace or zipper)

* Is available in full and half sizes with a minimum of three width so that the sole is graded to the size and width of the upper portions of the shoe according to the American standard last sizing schedule or its equivalent. ( The American last sizing schedule is the numerical shoe sizing system used for shoes in the United States.) This includes a shoe with or without a seamless toe.

Podiatrists, Pedorthists, Orthotists, Prosthetists, or other qualified individuals.

A common side effect of diabetes is 'peripheral neuropathy,' which causes loss of sensation in the extremities. Ill-fitting shoes which rub or pinch the feet excessively can lead to ulceration and foot injury, simply because the diabetic does not feel the injury until it is too late.

Properly fitted diabetic shoes are very important in preventing such injuries. Companies specializing in pedorthics -- the design of footwear and specialty insoles to help alleviate and/or prevent foot pain and injury -- manufacture special shoes and insoles for diabetics.

Diabetic shoes are often wider and deeper than regular shoes, to make room for special diabetic insoles. Pedorthic insoles for diabetics are generally custom made for the patient's feet, to ensure proper fit and minimize rubbing and uneven weight distribution, preventing injury. It is also important for a diabetic to have shoes with good air circulation, meaning a lot of diabetic footwear features fabric or sandal-style uppers.

It is very important for a diabetic to have their shoes custom fitted by a trained professional, since they may not be able to feel an improper fit, due to peripheral neuropathy. By ensuring proper fit and good air circulation, properly designed diabetic shoes and insoles prevent pressure ulcers, encourage good blood circulation, and allow the skin to breathe.