FAQ
Frequently asked questions
For questions relating to diabetic foot syndrome and its treatment, please get in touch with your general practitioner, diabetes specialist, podiatrist, diabetes advisor, orthopaedic (shoe) technician or visit a diabetes foot clinic.
Unsuitable shoes are the main cause of amputations in cases of diabetic foot. Around 80 per cent of all amputations among diabetics are precipitated by foot wounds that have been brought about by standard shoes. These shoes are often too small, too narrow, too hard or do not fit sufficiently well. Due to their lack of sensitivity, patients are unable to feel when the shoe is pinching. The consequences are foot wounds. It is important to remember that even wearing inappropriate footwear for a short period of time can lead to foot wounds. Our clinical study was able to prove that LucRo shoes counteract the development of new foot wounds.
If there is acute ulceration, corresponding countermeasures should be taken immediately. Ideally you should see the doctor who is treating you or visit a specialist diabetes clinic. Besides medical treatment, it is especially important to offload the pressure on the affected area. In this regard, so-called offloading shoes, or surgical shoes, orthoses or a total-contact cast may be suitable, depending on the clinical findings. While an open foot wound is present, LucRo shoes should not be worn. To identify the risk of development of a foot wound as quickly as possible, the following care concept exists: annual foot examination of all patients with diabetes mellitus by the general practitioner to check for the presence of any nerve damage or circulation disorders. If there is evidence of a sensitivity disorder, a six-monthly examination is advisable. Patients classified as being in risk class III or higher (for example, following a plantar ulcer) should be examined as an outpatient every three months.
Inspect your feet daily for changes; look at the areas between the toes and the soles of your feet. Use a mirror if necessary, or ask a relative to help you. When taking a bath, pay attention to the temperature: check the water temperature with a thermometer (max. 35 °C). Do not allow the skin to become too soft and use lipid replenishing soap. Dry your feet very carefully, especially between the toes. Try to use a soft towel so that the rubbing does not damage the skin. Never use sharp objects like razor blades, pliers or rasps to care for your nails or feet. Only use blunt files for your nails or pumice for rough skin. Cut your toenails straight across and file them straight across with a blunt nail file.
Only cut your nails as far as the edge of the toe. This prevents ingrowing toenails. Use moisturising cream or ointment on rough areas and horny skin (heel and sole) to avoid cracks. There are special products available for this. However, care should be taken to ensure that these ointments are not applied to wounds or between the toes. Consult a doctor or podiatrist immediately if you notice any changes such as the formation of blisters or corns, reddening, swelling, lacerations, skin exfoliation or any kind of injury. You should take any changes to your feet very seriously! If you are affected, you should only consult specially trained foot professionals (podiatrists). You can obtain the details of a foot professional in your area from your general practitioner or specialist.
The shape and length of the feet often change during the lifetime of the disease. You should therefore always make sure your shoes fit perfectly – even if you do not suffer from a sensitivity disorder. When purchasing new shoes, visit a specialist retailer (an orthopaedic shoe technician or orthopaedic technician) to have your foot measured precisely. This is especially important if you already have a sensitivity disorder of the foot. Do not order any shoes from a catalogue or via the Internet. Determining the precise size of the feet to ensure the right fit is vital. Before putting them on, always check the inside of the shoes for foreign bodies by feeling them. Check for signs of wear and replace or repair faulty shoes at the earliest opportunity. Only a fully functioning shoe can guarantee optimal protection.
Yes, LucRo shoes can be individually prescribed and ordered. Depending on requirements, a left or a right shoe can be requested (with no right of return). Delivery time is three to four weeks.
LucRo shoes can still be worn if there is a difference in the length of the legs. The soles can easily be built up by the orthopaedic (shoe) technician or specialist retailer to compensate for the difference in leg length.
Yes, if necessary, the option exists to order different-sized shoes for the left and right foot (no right of return). Delivery time is approx. 3–4 weeks.
With its all-round protection, the LucRo shoe is proven to be effective in preventing the formation of new foot wounds, making it a very important element of therapy. Yet other factors also influence the development of foot wounds. People with diabetes will have to pay a great deal of attention to their feet throughout their lives. Daily foot inspections and regular professional foot care are important. Before they are worn, the inside of the shoe should always be checked for foreign bodies. Special socks and stockings for people with diabetes – with no bulky seams or hems that constrict the skin – contribute to reducing the risk of sustaining a foot wound.
The actual benefit of toecaps is that they help to retain the shape of the shoe, thus cushioning any pressure exerted on the shoe from above. However, with sensitive diabetic feet the use of a toecap entails risks. As soon as pressure is exerted on the toecap, this can be transferred to the foot and have a detrimental effect on the affected area – which could lead to foot ulcers. To keep the pressure on the forefoot, and especially the toes, to an absolute minimum, we do not use toecaps on any of the shoes in the LucRo collection.
These abbreviations denote the shoe widths in which our LucRo shoes are available. The various widths increase the chances of finding the exact fit for every type of foot. ‘S’ stands for slim, ‘M’ for medium and ‘W’ for wide. The designation ‘plus 10’ signifies that the shoe height has been increased by 10 mm along the entire length of the inside of the shoe, increasing the size of the inner volume. Strong, individual footbeds will find sufficient room here. The technician will decide which width is right for the customer after measuring the feet.
A rocker sole supports and guides the rolling of the foot in the last phase of the step. In particular, the stress exerted on the forefoot, the movement in the metatarsophalangeal joint and the strain on the midfoot caused by moving can all be positively influenced by a rocker sole. Thanks to the structure of the sole on LucRo shoes (rocker sole and stiffening), pressure peaks in the vulnerable forefoot area are reduced and absorbed by the sole structure.
Yes, it is possible to resole LucRo shoes. We give retailers the opportunity to order outer soles, insoles and other elements of the LucRo shoe separately.
Patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus should be examined by a specialist for diabetic polyneuropathy and circulation disorders. In positive cases, the issue of shoes should definitely be addressed. It has been proven that LucRo special shoes can protect the feet from mechanical irritations and ulcerations. Under no circumstances should you wait until the first wound appears! The type of shoe chosen – whether LucRo classic or LucRo kinetic – depends largely on the dimensions of the foot. For both ranges we offer a wide selection of men’s and women’s shoes.
No, not necessarily. The shoe is supplied with a flat, standard insole. This is often sufficient. If indicated, the doctor will prescribe an additional footbed adapted for diabetes patients. The orthopaedic (shoe) technician will make these individually for patients. If a diabetes-adapted footbed is to be worn, the standard soft bed is removed from the shoe beforehand to make enough room for the individual insole.
Our LucRo shoes are made using high-quality materials. The longevity of the shoes is dependent on where they are worn, the length of time they are worn, and how they are cared for. It is difficult to say exactly how long the shoes will last, because the wear – like all shoes – differs greatly from one case to the next.
It is imperative that the fit of the shoe is checked by the specialist retailer supplying them, or the doctor treating the patient. During the course of the disease it is possible that the shape of the foot will change. Accordingly, depending on the clinical findings, the shoe should be checked regularly – at least every six months – by the patient's doctor at the same time as the routine foot check. The fit can also be checked by the supplying technician or specialist retailer. Patients themselves are responsible for ensuring that the shoes are regularly checked. They should also check their feet daily for pressure points.
The patient may feel a sensation of slippage around the heel area. The roll supports this feeling. Slippage up to 0.5 cm is considered normal. However, depending on the size, the shoe requires an additional length of at least 15mm, because the foot slides forwards whilst walking. This ensures that the toes do not bump into the front of the shoe. On top of that, the patient also has reduced sensitivity in the foot. Accordingly, only a shoe that is too small would feel as if it fitted correctly. Determining the right size is crucial for the effectiveness of the shoe. If there is too much slippage, the technician can remedy this with corrective orthopaedic measures.
The technician has a very important role: they determine the exact size and width of the shoe to be ordered. To do so, they measure both feet in several places to ensure that any potential differences between the feet are reliably identified. If a diabetes-adapted footbed has been prescribed, they are also responsible for the correct production, modification and delivery. The patient should see the technician regularly to check the fit of the shoe.
Not every type of diabetic foot can be treated with LucRo shoes. Here, too, there are clear contraindications: if there is a contracture foot misalignment, then bespoke orthopaedic shoes are generally required. This is equally the case with partial amputations proximal to the midfoot joints. In cases of diabetic neuropathic osteoarthropathy, an orthosis or a total-contact cast is required due to the alteration of the skeleton of the foot. If the foot is acutely infected, the affected area is offloaded with a surgical shoe or an offloading shoe.
The shoe is chosen and ordered at the specialist retailer from specialist companies in the orthopaedic shoe trade.
