Diabetes is a chronic disease that can require lifelong treatment and care. There are a variety of complications. Some of these can affect the feet. For example, there may be a risk of developing serious infections in this area. Therefore, the selection of socks for a diabetic is essential.
Neglect of a diabetic foot can lead to amputation of a toe, foot, or even the leg below the knee .
Therefore, it is very important to maintain good foot care. In this sense, diabetic socks are specifically created to provide softness and comfort on a daily basis while preventing complications.
Here are some tips on how to choose diabetic socks.
Diabetes and feet
People who have diabetes are at constant risk of complications associated with having abnormal blood sugar levels. One of these in particular is nerve damage (known as neuropathy).
The most common neuropathy is that which affects the nerves of the feet . If you suffer from this type of problem, you are likely to have these symptoms:
- Numbness of the feet and toes.
- Very sharp pain in the feet, possibly worse at night.
- Tingling or extreme burning sensation in the feet.
- Muscular weakness.
- Foot deformities and presence of ulcers.
If diabetic neuropathy has affected the feeling in your feet, you may be injuring yourself without even realizing it.
Something as simple as a shoe chafing can damage your skin to the point of causing a small ulcer that you may not be aware of.
If you don’t constantly check your feet for injuries, they can worsen and become infected . Good foot care when you are diabetic includes:
- The daily review of the same in search of injuries.
- Blisters .
- Infections that need to be treated.
In addition to wearing shoes that protect your foot and help prevent injury, it’s a good idea to choose to wear diabetic socks.
What characteristics do diabetic socks have?
There is a wide variety of diabetic socks. They are typically designed to minimize foot injuries while keeping them dry and warm.
In order for you to find the right pair of socks, you simply have to experiment until you find the brand and style that best suits your needs.
These are some of the characteristics that diabetic socks have:
- Without stitches. Seams can easily cause blisters or ulcers on the skin by rubbing against it. That is why diabetic socks do not have them.
- They absorb moisture. Keeping your feet dry is important to prevent infections and fungus.
- breathable. They are made of fabrics that allow moisture to vent and keep the foot dry.
- warm. Diabetes often causes blood vessels to narrow and poor blood circulation causes heat to be lost. Fabrics that help keep your feet warm will also improve your circulation .
- square toe Socks that are narrow around the toes can be too tight. This causes discomfort and allows moisture to build up.
- Adaptable. Many diabetic socks fit your feet and legs. This prevents the fabric from being loose and bunching against the foot. Sometimes you can put pressure on it and cause injuries.
- Padded. The padded fabrics of this kind of sock protect the foot from chafing with the shoe and cushion shocks, thus avoiding injuries.
What should you consider when choosing your socks?
As we have mentioned before, it is about choosing a pair of socks that are particularly adapted to what you need as a diabetic person.
If you have not developed any type of neuropathy, it is as simple as choosing the socks with which you feel most comfortable .
If, on the other hand, you have new symptoms or signs of worsening neuropathy, you should talk to your doctor about what would be the best option for you.
When you have neuropathy and are looking for a good pair of socks, it’s important to consider your current condition .
In cases such as dryness or cracking of the skin, those made of soft material will be your best option.
If your neuropathy is advanced, to the point of no sensitivity, it is important that you wear socks that fit snugly around your foot and have no seams to prevent bulges in the fabric from rubbing against your skin and causing injury.
Choosing the right diabetic socks also means making sure they fit your foot well enough, but not so tight that it affects your circulation.
Avoid socks that are too tight or have elastic at the top, as this will worsen blood circulation to your feet.
Complement diabetic socks with the right shoes
You have a lot of options to choose the sock that best suits your needs. However, you should also take into account your shoes.
Remember that no sock will help if your shoe is hurting your feet and causing wounds and ulcers.
Diabetic neuropathy can be very serious, but you can avoid complications if you take care to find the right socks and shoes.
If you feel that you need help, do not hesitate to consult with your doctor or podiatrist. They are the ones who can give you a professional opinion about what considerations you should take into account.
