Best Shoes for Diabetics 2024

If you’re diabetic, exercising can be a little risky because of all the high blood sugar that circulates around your body. Occasionally this leads to damage to the nerves and vessels of the feet. If someone has diabetes their feet has a tendency to develop blisters, calluses, or wounds that carry the risk of getting an infection. For that reason alone you should err on the side of caution and realize that there are special shoes out there made specifically to be friendly towards diabetics. These shoes are specially designed and improve the circulation of blood preventing the breakdown of skin due to neuropathy. Diabetic shoes need to have the following characteristics in order to do the job well; protective interiors, uppers that are stretchable, removable insoles, orthotic support, and a design that is wider and spacious enough to prevent chaffing of the feet.

In this review I’m going to break down the top 5 list of walking shoes for diabetics. All shoes listed here are for walking purposes so you can continue to exercise without having to worry about any additional issues. Read on to find out which one suits you.

When it comes to manufacturing diabetic friendly shoes, you cannot find a brand better than Skechers. From their acclaimed line of walking shoes come the Performance Men’s Go Walk 4. The shoes are composed of a natural synthetic mesh upper that are soft and snug to ensure you don’t chafe the feet when putting them on. Because these shoes are without laces, you just have to slip them on and you’ll be good to go.

They’re also very light which makes walking for long periods an easier activity to perform. Shape wise, I think they fitted the sides of my foot well and had a heel overlay that provided stability to my posture as well. But the toe box was a little constricted for my liking. I’d therefore recommend you order a size bigger than your original size. Doing so would mean you’ll have a wider area for your foot to move around in.

The insoles have a high rebound shock-absorption mechanism to reduce pressure on the foot. They utilize a moisture wick lining, and small perforations on the tongue that let air pass through and keep the feet fresh and breathable. The midfoot is designed to provide arch support and that way you will always have proper foot posture when making your outdoor excursions in the pleasant weather.

The soles of the shoe are made of rubber and utilize innovative triangular lugs to provide proper traction on slippery surfaces. However I did find that over time the sole began to show signs of wear.

Other than that, premium comfort cannot get better than the Skechers Performance Men’s Go Walk 4.

Brooks has for long been a champion at creating ergonomically designed footwear and the Addiction Walkers are one of their most reliable. And because this shoe is designed wide and are comfortable, it’s pretty useful for those with diabetic too.

The upper on the Addiction Walkers are composed of nubuck leather with a smooth fabric lining, that make them impressively durable and long-lasting. The Walkers also provide a really decent alignment of the heel and forefoot. The insoles are padded with a BioMoGo DNA loft that offer precision and balancing by adapting to your stride, weight, and speed.

The Walkers also feature an enhanced Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar technology that evenly distribute your body weight throughout your foot which in turn reduces the impact on your joints. The inner fabric of the shoes do a great job at absorbing impact of your gait and also provide comfortable padding around the ankles that will be handy on long walks.

Also featured is a slip resistant sole that provides a lot of decent traction on different kinds of surfaces making it possible for you to walk without fear of losing your footing.

Though they may be a little heavier as a walking shoe, the Brooks Addiction Walkers impress thoroughly!

The Propet Lifewalkers are durably built shoes designed to last long. The shoes have a strong build, decent cushioning, and provide arch stability that corrects overpronation.

The upper and lining of these shoes is made entirely of natural leather. There is an orthotic removable insole that is cushioned and reduces stress on different joints and tendons. The insole is designed specifically to flex itself relative to your feet which will make moving and walking all the more easy. A lightweight EVA midsole significantly absorbs impact and cushions your strides. The outsole is made of rubber with multidimensional lugs that protrude and provide decent traction on most surfaces.

The arch support features on the Lifewalkers is stellar. In my opinion, it is one of the best ones you can find out there currently. A contoured heel stabilizer corrects the posture of you foot and makes walking/standing long hours a much more comfortable luxury. The tongue and collar is padded and fits the foot snugly. You will also find two adjustable dual Velcro straps that fasten the Lifewalkers around your feet.

I did find the shoes bulky but niggling design flaws aside the Propet Lifewalkers are really great for arch-support and stability.

If you look at the construction of the New Balance Men’s 626v2 shoes, you’ll immediately notice the solid leather construction, the wide design, and the fact that the upper does not go above the ankles. The shoes are medicare approved and are significantly helpful to diabetics suffering from neuropathy.

So what makes the 626v2 such a good pair of footwear for neuropathics? Firstly, It has a durable upper that can sustain some heavy use. The midsole is compression molded and provides decent arch-support. There’s a crash-pad in the heel to correct foot placement. I did go away feeling like the narrow heel design also made the entire shoe less spacious than I would have liked.

The outsoles are made of rubber and are slip-resistant. When you put together the entire package of the 626v2’s you get a pair of shoes that are designed specifically to minimize pain and reduce the risk of falling and chafing that neuropathics are otherwise susceptible to.

These shoes are your calling for premium diabetic friendly footwear that offer great quality for a very affordable price. The New Balance 411v2 walking shoe has a leather upper with strategically placed perforations along the lining in order to increase the pair’s breathability. It utilizes a deep toe box for good support, an elevated instep, and a narrow heel designed to fit you well.

The midsole features a cushioning footbed and uses soft fabric lining in order to increase maximum comfort for your foot. In terms of arch support the 411v2 are downright stellar and do not leave room for complains. You’ll be able to walk in these classic shoes for hours without feeling gravity pull you down and tire you out.

The sole is made of rubber with lugs well designed to grip on slippery surfaces. Though I think the soles have a chance of degrading over time. For the little time that I did use the shoes, and I did wear them for hours, I found signs of wear eventually begin to manifest on the outsoles.

But other than that the 411v2 look like a timeless and classy pair of sport shoes. They’re really comfortable and provide good support for diabetics.