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Golf won’t cure your diabetes, that’s for sure. But you can expect the sport to elevate the benefits of other treatments you’re taking. In fact, some experts have said that sports like golf can improve the overall wellness of diabetic players by 30-40% compared to patients using the same sorts of treatment without golf. Now that’s something.
Before you head down to the course, it’s imperative that you take the time to consider how diabetes-appropriate your present gear is. Among the most important investments you should make are the best golf shoes for diabetics which can help prevent some of the most common complications of the condition as you work your way through the course.
Poor circulation and peripheral nerve damage are the most common complications of diabetes. When sensation in the feet is dampened by nerve damage, an individual becomes less capable of feeling sores and blisters that form. And because blood circulation is insufficient, these wounds will exacerbate faster than they can heal. This is the reason why diabetics who don’t care enough for their feet are at risk of amputation.
That said, proper foot care and thus appropriate footwear should be a major consideration for all of your daily activities. In the realm of golf, these properties come up as the most important for safe and efficient play.
It might not seem to matter a lot whether you’re wearing shoes with soft interiors especially if they’re not quite as sensitive as they used to be. But the main purpose of the cushioning is to reduce the risk of developing blisters, sores, and calluses on the various areas of your feet.
Soft material that’s easy on the skin can protect your feet from all sorts of wounds. But it isn’t enough to choose a shoe that has comfortable insoles. Is there lining that protects the other surfaces of your feet from poor stitchwork, thick seams, and other protrusions along the uppers that might embed themselves in your skin? That’s definitely worth considering as well.
Notice how your feet get softer and more prone to injury when soaked in moisture? A pair of golf shoes that protects your feet from both external and internal sources of moisture can improve their resilience against blisters and sores. Aside from a waterproof pair, you may want to look into shoes that are designed to wick away sweat.
Well-ventilated shoes also have a much better chance at maintaining a cool, dry interior, preventing your feet from being soaked in their own sweat over extended periods of play.
You might say that fit is a vital consideration for any footwear choice - whether or not you’re diabetic. But with this condition, it becomes doubly important. Shoes that are too tight will press against the many different areas of your feet. And if you’re suffering from decreased sensation, then you might not notice how your footwear digs into your skin.
As you walk, these shoes will cause friction against your feet. Over time, the constant abrasion will break the skin and begin the formation of wounds. As a general rule, you’ll want to choose a shoe with adjustable fasteners or lace-ups so you can fine-tune the fit anytime you feel it’s necessary.
It’s not enough that a shoe should be soft and cushioned on the inside. Arch support can be particularly important for individuals with diabetes. Decreased sensation can make diabetics numb to even positional problems. That is, it may be difficult to detect whether you’re observing proper body mechanics as you walk around.
Shoes that don’t provide sufficient support can result to over or under pronation, lateral movement, and all sorts of abnormal walking problems that can result to mechanical damage and deformities. Insoles that observe anatomical arch support should be a major consideration if you’re going to be walking around a golf course.
Aside from all the important things you need to look for, there are also quite a few qualities that need to be avoided. These properties of a golf shoe can be detrimental to foot health, and must therefore be avoided as much as possible.
A sleek golf shoe might seem like a worthy purchase from the fashion stand-point, but these ultra lightweight choices often sacrifice support and comfort to achieve the aesthetic. Thin shoes will hardly protect your feet from things like rocky terrain and from the impact of heel strike. Always opt for thick materials with plush padding to cushion your stride and minimize the effect of stones underfoot.
Materials that don’t bend and flex to match your movement can force your foot into all sorts of compensatory motion. When this happens, you could injure your foot or apply pressure on other areas of your sole like the arches and the forefoot. Always opt for shoes that let you move freely and without restriction to avoid the risk of impaired body mechanics.
A pointed toe box can make your foot look sleek and slender, but there is a trade-off. With this type of shoe silhouette, you risk cramping your toes together. When this happens, circulation is further impeded and degradation of the bones of the toes and forefoot might not be too far behind, depending on how often you wear your golf shoes.
Designed for an effortless stride, the Ecco Cage Pro 2 Golf Shoes tout a slightly upward pointing toe box. This intuitive feature promotes a rocking motion from heel to toe, limiting the effort it takes to transfer weight from back to front. The interior of the shoes are smooth and soft, featuring a widened midfoot area for decreased pressure points.
These shoes incorporate the signature Boa closure system that let users fine-tune fit without the hassle of laces. The ingenious addition allows easy adjustments that reduce pressure points across the entire surface of the foot. Waterproof and breathable, these Ecco golf shoes are pliable and flexible, allowing natural foot movement that doesn’t impede your range of motion.
Designed for both stability and comfort, the Adidas Tech Response Golf Shoes marry pliable, breathable mesh uppers and a responsive sole construction. The result is a dreamy union that minimizes pressure spots while keeping you stable and confident as you move through the course. The shoes feature lightweight Cloudfoam that cushions the entire interior for a soft skin feel.
Feather-light and with a slight bounce, these shoes deliver excellent comfort and reduced energy expenditure with their midsoles and insoles. Constructed to preserve your momentum, Thintech technology aims to add bounce to your step for a more powerful swing. And despite being spikeless, these shoes can keep your feet steady on the ground with effective soft rubber cleats that leave less damage on the green.
The performance mesh uppers on the New Balance Breeze Comfort Golf Shoe help maintain cool comfort inside the shoe at all times. Well-ventilated and lined, these shoes wick away moisture and allow unrestricted airflow to keep your feet comfortably cool and dry all throughout the course. But despite its breathable material, these shoes showcase premium padding that cushions every bony area to eliminate pressure points throughout your foot anatomy.
The outsoles on the Breeze Comfort Golf Shoes are designed for traction despite the lack of spikes. Flexible and responsive, these outsoles showcase the brand’s NDurance outsoles that strive to keep you grounded and confident across all sorts of terrain. On top of that, the material also works to preserve your momentum to max out your endurance on the course.
The Skechers brand has become quite popular for their Go series of shoes that are designed to provide users extended endurance for all sorts of standing and walking activities. Their Performance Go Golf Elite 2 Golf Shoe brandishes some of the qualities of their signature line-up, bringing that stamina-building impact to the golf course. These shoes use pliable leather and synthetic materials to give you a readily flexible shoe that moves and bends along with your feet.
Inside, the shoes boast premium padding and seamless construction that reduces the risk of pressure and friction building up on the bony areas and planes of your feet. And to support it all, the footwear design incorporates a strong rubber outsole that uses a modest yet effective tread design that minimizes turf damage without dampening on traction.
With a 2-year waterproof warranty, the Callaway LaJolla SL Golf Shoes promise to keep your feet dry against the many different hazards that might imbue them with moisture. These shoes use premium full-grain leather that’s impervious to water, yet flexible and pliable for a comfortable step. These join the outsoles by way of premium stitching that holds everything together.
The Opti-Soft EVA midsole provides ample arch support to keep your feet in anatomical alignment as you walk, stand, and swing. This - in combination with the satisfyingly soft insoles - make for a shoe that can be exceedingly comfortable to walk in, all while protecting your feet from the common dangers associated with diabetes.
Diabetic treatment can significantly benefit from the inclusion of a low-impact sport - and golf is one of them. Offering to enhance the advantages of the other treatments you use, the physical activity you get out of a few rounds of golf can significantly improve your health and help you manage your condition. But that doesn’t mean you should just head out and play.
Preparing yourself with the right gear - like the best golf shoes for diabetics - should help you protect your delicate feet and keep injury away. And when you use footwear that really meets your body’s needs, you stand the chance to level the playing field and play against advanced golfers without giving any clues about your condition.
