The reason why people with diabetes require specialized footwear is mainly because nerve damage caused by diabetes can make the toes numb. They might rub against one another and cause blistering. The extra space in a diabetic shoe protects your toes while walking and also helps promote blood circulation.Diabetic shoes have a higher, wider toe box, which helps give your toes some extra room. Your toes rub against each other in regular shoes or against the front surface of the shoe.Some people tend to over-pronate or under-pronate their feet while walking. This leads to hot spots and blisters. And for diabetics, any wound takes a long time to heal.Diabetic shoes have special stabilizers at their sole to keep the feet at a certain level. Their soles are generally wide and thick as thicker soles cushion the feet from wear and tear and that extra width helps your feet from getting hurt.