A government-funded study of 400 people who had had diabetic foot ulcers found that special therapeutic footwear did not significantly reduce their recurrence.

The people who took part in the study were given therapeutic shoes and one of two types of inserts (customized medium-density cork inserts with a neoprene cover or prefabricated tapered polyurethane inserts with a nylon cover). Their results were compared to a control group who were told to wear their own usual footwear. None of those participating had severe foot deformities.

After two years, reulceration in all three groups was low: 15% in the cork-insert group, 14% in the prefabricated insert group, and 17% in the controls. All of the new ulcerations occurred in people with foot insensitivity.

The study investigators concluded that the special footwear studied did not protect against reulceration any better than the patients' own shoes. They suggested that careful attention to foot care may be more important than therapeutic footwear.

Related information Special issues - Foot care

Source:  Reiber G, Smith DG, Wallace C, et al. Effect of therapeutic footwear on foot reulceration in patients with diabetes. Journal of the American Medical Association, May 15, 2002;287:2552-2558. (Abs.)