Diabetic Socks - What is a Diabetic Sock & What Socks are Available

Posted by Amos Fred on January 1st, 2021

If you’re diabetic and you have little to no feeling in your feet due to complications with the disease, then you’ll need to invest in a good pair of socks. You’ll need to check out options that will reduce the risk of blisters and will keep your feet dry. Dry feet have fewer chances of developing bad odor, which is what usually happens with sweaty feet. You not only prevent foot ulcers with the right pair of socks, you also promote good skin care.

With so many options for socks, you might be wondering how to pick the right one. Here are some of the qualities of the ideal socks for you. If you start checking out options, make sure they have these features. If they don’t, move on to the next.

Features of Socks for People with Diabetes

When you shop around for diabetic socks, you need to ask yourself these four questions:

• Does it come with elastic cuffs? If yes, then that’s not good. Only non-elasticated cuffs will do. Elastic cuffs leave marks on the skin with prolonged use. Most diabetics keep their socks on all day to protect against possible injuries. Those marks could turn into blisters or scratches, worsen, and get infected before you can even figure out that you’re hurt.
• Does it have prominent seams? It shouldn’t. Seams leave marks on the skin again and can rub the sensitive skin raw, which could lead to breaks in the skin. That’s the outcome you want to avoid at all costs.
• Does it stay warm even in winter? Then that means the socks have pretty good temperature-regulating properties. That’s a wonderful pair of socks to have during the winter since they’ll help keep you warm. They’ll also be a good choice during summer. Even with the heat out, the breathable properties of diabetic socks will let your feet breathe without a problem, eliminating any possibility of foot odor.
• Does it allow the sweat to dry? That’s a must, especially during summer since your feet might sweat. That’s sweat wicking properties. If your socks have these, then you should be good.
• Are they in white? You might not feel any injuries. White allows you to spot any blood or stains on your socks, alerting you to a possible scratch or cut that you hadn’t noticed before.

Why Do You Need Socks?

Diabetes makes the skin on your feet sensitive as the result of the burst nerves in the affected regions. That results in the numbness. Because of the loss of sensitivity, you’re less likely to feel any cuts or scratches. If you scratch at the skin that’s been rubbed raw from repeated exposure to elastic cuffs, that could lead to wounds which could get infected. The wound will heal slowly, which puts it at risk of getting infected. That’s why you often hear a lot of diabetics getting their feet amputated. Once the infection spreads, there’s little to no hope of saving the leg.

Protecting yourself against that outcome starts by choosing the right socks. Start looking for the best pair for you.