Best Diabetic Shoes — Medicare-Covered, Extra-Depth & Protective 2026

Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon — Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI. Last updated April 2026.

Medicare’s Therapeutic Shoe Program — What Diabetic Patients Are Entitled To

Medicare Part B’s Therapeutic Shoe Program provides significant footwear benefits for diabetic patients that most patients are unaware of: one pair of extra-depth shoes and three pairs of custom-molded insoles per calendar year, or one pair of custom-molded shoes (for patients with severe foot deformity) — covered at 80% after deductible for qualifying diabetic patients. Qualifying criteria: diagnosis of diabetes mellitus; one of the following diabetic foot conditions: peripheral neuropathy with documented evidence of callus formation; history of pre-ulcerative callus; history of foot ulceration; foot deformity; previous amputation; or poor circulation. The prescribing physician (primary care or endocrinologist) certifies the medical need; the podiatrist performs the footwear fitting and orders the appropriate shoe and insole. At Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM fits and prescribes diabetic footwear under the Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Program. Call (810) 206-1402.

Best Medicare-Eligible Diabetic Shoe 2026 — New Balance 928v3

The New Balance 928v3 is an APMA-accepted, Medicare-eligible diabetic shoe that provides the protective features required for neuropathic foot care: seamless interior that eliminates the pressure points and friction sources that cause ulceration in insensate feet; extra-depth construction that accommodates custom diabetic insoles without compression; wide and extra-wide widths (2E, 4E) for edematous diabetic feet; ROLLBAR stability technology that controls the excessive pronation common in neuropathic flatfoot; and the Velcro closure that allows adjustment for daily foot swelling without requiring bending. Available as Medicare-billable under the Therapeutic Shoe Program through certified diabetic footwear providers. Best for: diabetic patients with neuropathy and foot swelling who need a Medicare-covered shoe with daily volume adjustment capability.

Best Diabetic Athletic Shoe 2026 — HOKA Bondi SR

The HOKA Bondi SR provides maximum-cushion protection for diabetic patients who remain active — the 38mm foam midsole absorbs the impact forces that create callus and pre-ulcerative pressure in neuropathic feet better than any standard-cushion shoe. The meta-rocker geometry redistributes plantar pressure away from the metatarsal heads — the most common ulceration site in diabetic patients — toward the midfoot. The slip-resistant outsole is appropriate for patients with balance impairment from neuropathy. While the Bondi SR’s thick foam cannot accommodate a full custom diabetic insole as easily as a traditional extra-depth shoe, a trimmed custom insole fits within the removable OEM footbed space. Best for: active diabetic patients who walk 5,000+ steps daily and need maximum plantar pressure distribution; patients with metatarsal head callus or pre-ulcerative lesions.

Diabetic Insole Requirements — Why OTC Insoles Are Insufficient

The standard OTC arch support insole is not an appropriate substitute for a Medicare diabetic therapeutic insole in neuropathic patients — the functional requirements are fundamentally different. OTC insoles are designed for arch support and comfort in sensate patients who will feel pressure and discomfort before ulceration occurs. Medicare diabetic insoles are custom-molded to the patient’s specific plantar surface geometry, made from multi-density materials that distribute plantar pressure across the maximum surface area, and include metatarsal offloading material positioned at the patient’s specific pressure points identified by pressure mapping. The clinical goal of a diabetic insole is not comfort — it is pressure redistribution below the threshold that creates plantar callus and pre-ulcerative lesions in a patient who cannot feel whether pressure is occurring. This distinction makes custom diabetic insoles a medical device rather than a comfort product.

Diabetic Shoe Fitting at Balance Foot & Ankle

At Balance Foot & Ankle, we perform Medicare-compliant diabetic footwear fitting including pressure plate assessment to identify high-risk plantar pressure areas, selection of appropriate extra-depth shoe model, and fabrication of custom diabetic insoles with metatarsal offloading. The Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Program benefit resets each calendar year — qualifying patients who have not used this benefit should contact us to initiate the fitting before year-end. Book online or call (810) 206-1402 — Howell and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Best Diabetic Shoes — Medicare-Covered Extra Depth Options

Need Medicare-covered diabetic shoes? Our podiatrists handle the entire process from qualification to fitting at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills offices.

Learn About Our Diabetic Shoe & Orthotic Program → | Book Your Appointment | Call (810) 206-1402

Clinical References

1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Therapeutic shoes for persons with diabetes. CMS.gov, 2024.
2. Bus SA, et al. Guidelines on offloading foot ulcers. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 2016;32(Suppl 1):25-36.
3. American Diabetes Association. Standards of Care — Foot Care. Diabetes Care, 2024;47(Suppl 1):S231-S243.

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

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Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.