When it comes to foot health, what you wear on your feet can be just as important as what’s going on inside them. That’s where therapeutic shoes come in. You may have heard of them from a doctor, a friend with diabetes, or maybe you saw them online and wondered: Are they really that different from regular shoes? The short answer? Yes. And if you’re living with foot pain, diabetes, or deformities like bunions or hammertoes, therapeutic shoes could be the smartest step you take.

Diabetes is a medical condition that does not only require constant care of your blood sugar levels but also your feet. Diabetics are at risk for developing serious foot ailments. Uncontrolled diabetes can possibly lead to poor circulation and nerve damage in the lower limbs. Complications from diabetes makes wound healing difficult and makes it easier for a troubling infection to set in.