the advice that diabetics must never walk barefoot is general but I think its too negative

I have no foot damage and doc tells me my foot pulses are quite OK
I take long barefoot walks along sandy beaches, which I find pleasant and relaxing
this wakes up the feet and improves circulation, being similar to a foot massage
I accept the risk of treading on a syringe or something that may cut my foot but all my cuts heal up quickly

In the early stages of diabetes it does seem like it is too much to take so much care of your feet. Afterall, they are in great shape, they do heal quickly. The problem is when does your condition change to where you should take more care?

I was listening to a doctor that heads up a foot injury clinic in a major NY hospital. They ask every patient who has an amputation what happened that lead to the amputation. He said that the most often reason given is the removal of a callus. No injury to a diabetics foot is to be treated as routine or just an injury. No matter who removed it - doctor of done themselves, it did not matter. I agree with you on the approach you hear about walking barefoot. I am not thinking we are just in that gray area between non-diabetic thinking and true believers of what it takes to survive this problem with few or no problems. That same doctor went on to explain that the best prevention of problems with your feet is to not allow them to be injured in the first place. Sounds simple, doesn't it. Waliong barefoot leaves you open for any number of injuries.

There are problems that are interior to your foot, but the major problem is the external injuries we all get time to time. Once you get the injury that tells you it is too late is well "too late." Not that a bad injury will always lead to amputation, it probably won't, but it will make your life a mess. You might research out the stats on the injuries people get just walking on the beach. Maybe it will support your thinking, maybe not.

When I slipped on the ice and broke my left foot,
I had to wear a boot of sorts for 4 months with my foot all taped up because
doctors won't put a cast on a diabetic.
It took that long to heal and my sugars were good too.
Moral of my story?
Take care of your feet cause they don't grow back.

I go barefoot or just in socks all the time at home, barefoot at the swimming pools. I actually think its healthier for my feet than having them closed up in sweaty shoes for so many hours. I've been type 2 for 11 years and my feet are in really great shape for my age. I also wear "sensible" shoes (when I wear shoes, LOL). I used to go barefoot on ocean or lake beaches too, but I just wouldn't take the chance any more of getting a cut - I wear "water shoes", very comfortable, available at low price from any good sporting goods store.