Best sandals for a diabetic

Spring is almost here, which, for me, means time to buy new sandals.  I wear sandals every day in the summer and I want advice on a great supportive pair.  I am looking for a pair of sandals that provide support, comfort, and some protection for my feet.  As a diabetic I would love to pay $3 and wear old navy sandals all summer long but I want to protect my feet so those flip-flops aren't gonna cut it, plus my doctor doesn't recommend those because too much of your foot is exposed she said.    

 

I wore Burkenstock's last year which worked out great, but I wanted to know what is your favorite pair of reliable sandals?    

I've always worn the Old Navy flip flops and never have had a problem, but I know where you're coming from. I love Crocs. They have flip flops that have support and are very comfortable!

I am a $3 old navy flipflop lover as well as a croc lover BUT last summer in my yard while wearing crocs i stepped on a hidden rusty piece of metal, and had to have the wound opened, excavated, and packed for a week... the most painful thing EVER. 

so i have officially designated the flip flops as my "summer indoor only slippers" and will wear crocs around town, work, etc but never into the yard, woods, etc!

i have a pair of birkenstocks that are awesome- the sole in thick and unpuncturable and they mold to your feet... love em!

     :   )

oh! also Lands End has some great ones, thick soles, mold to your feet, etc but still let in air...

I've been wondering about this too as the weather has started to warm up a little!  I've always worn flip flops or gone barefoot a lot (gasp).  I know it's bad but if you go barefoot enough you get a nice toughness on the bottom of your feet that I swear is unpuncturable lol.  But, I realize this is probably a bad idea for several reasons, including that I've been told that flip flops are kinda bad for your posture/chiropractic health.  So anyway, I've been searching for a nice pair of cute yet supportive sandals that are nonleather.  I look forward to hearing everyone's opinion. :)

Molly

Land's End shoes are great; I've had several pairs.  They breathe, are comfy on the feet, and not that expensive (if you sign up for emails you'll get free shipping offers and sometimes they even go to 40% off).

On the subject of supportive shoes, I have to make the argument fhat for "support" purposes, they do more harm than good.  Think about it... for thousands of years, humans walked and ran everywhere barefoot or with very thin sandals on...  and they were fine.  Ailments like plantar fascitis are a fairly modern development.  Why?  Because when you want to make something stronger, you use it over and over.  You don't strengthen something by babying it (wearing supportive shoes).  The cushiony athletic shoes we use now actually cause injuries, because they are realigning your back and preventing the arch of your foot from strenthening.  I never considered any of this to be true until I read a book recently that made a pretty strong argument that made sense (Born to Run by Christopher McDougall). 

Okay, I'm stepping off of my podium now.

I wear RipCurl flip flops or some surf company's that I bought at the beach a few years ago after I realized that I forgot to pack mine. No complaints.

[quote user="Pat"]

or some surf company's that I bought at the beach a few years ago after I realized that I forgot to pack mine. No complaints.

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Pat's so full of good advice.

[quote user="C"]

[quote user="Pat"]

or some surf company's that I bought at the beach a few years ago after I realized that I forgot to pack mine. No complaints.

[/quote]

 

Pat's so full of good advice.

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I am like Yoda. Just saying that I wear flipflops and that my feet haven't fallen off or degenerated because of them. If you take care of yourself, aren't your appendages/organs supposed to be ok anyway?

I just bought a pair of Rainbow Sandals from pacsun..they are pretty expensive ($45) but I figured it was worth it since we have to take good care of our feet! They make lots of different styles...they even have hemp ones Molly! They are guaranteed for the life of the sole, and I know friends who have had them for 5+ years so they last a really long time!

http://www.rainbowsandals.com

Merrill has the best "Teva"-style sandals out there. I also have a pair of Columbia sandals.

I have had the same pair of Merrills that I adore for 12+ years.  Provide great support.

They are good shoes, great support and all terrain. Great for hiking through water, and water sports.

I also have cheap flip flops. They're fine.

And I echo the sentiment someone else said earlier - if your BGs are good and you have good control, you'll never have issues with your feet. I've been in Dillo Dirt (compost) mud baths at Austin City Limits music festival, e-coli infested waters, etc. etc. - and never a single infection.

/ Michelle

 

 

I still have full feeling on my feet, so I've never had a problem with cheap flipflops. I've never had a foot infection that's related to my shoes.

But, I also like Lands End water shoes. (:

I like the Reef flip flops, but I've used Old Navy too and never had a problem, except that they wear so quickly. 

I haven't worried about my feet very much - I walk around barefoot a lot during the summer and my feet are naturally very calloused.  Is it something to be concerned about if you have good control?

I wear my crocs in the summer. Clogs, slip ons, wedge heels, flats and flip flops, I love them all ; ) For me,Crocs have better cushioning and offer more protection than a flip flop does.

[quote user="Kim"]

Land's End shoes are great; I've had several pairs.  They breathe, are comfy on the feet, and not that expensive (if you sign up for emails you'll get free shipping offers and sometimes they even go to 40% off).

On the subject of supportive shoes, I have to make the argument fhat for "support" purposes, they do more harm than good.  Think about it... for thousands of years, humans walked and ran everywhere barefoot or with very thin sandals on...  and they were fine.  Ailments like plantar fascitis are a fairly modern development.  Why?  Because when you want to make something stronger, you use it over and over.  You don't strengthen something by babying it (wearing supportive shoes).  The cushiony athletic shoes we use now actually cause injuries, because they are realigning your back and preventing the arch of your foot from strenthening.  I never considered any of this to be true until I read a book recently that made a pretty strong argument that made sense (Born to Run by Christopher McDougall). 

Okay, I'm stepping off of my podium now.

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Super interesting!  I can totally see how that makes sense.  Thanks for sharing!  I'll have to check out that book.

Yeah, this book kind of blew my mind!  Sorry to anyone if I'm talking about it too much.  I think I've mentioned it on at least three different threads on here.  Heh!  :)

[quote user="Kim"]

Yeah, this book kind of blew my mind!  Sorry to anyone if I'm talking about it too much.  I think I've mentioned it on at least three different threads on here.  Heh!  :)

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No, it's interesting. I've heard a similar story on NPR recently.