6 Reasons Diabetic Socks Promote Healthy Feet
Did you know that almost 70% of leg amputations occur in people with diabetes? Startling fact isn't it? But there are ways to improve the health of ...
Did you know that almost 70% of leg amputations occur in people with diabetes? Startling fact isn’t it? But there are ways to improve the health of your feet and legs through the use of diabetic socks.
Here are 6 health benefits of socks for diabetes sufferers:
#1 Reduce Irritation – Reducing foot irritation is key, and this is where the seamless design of diabetic socks really comes into play.
Traditional socks generally have seams, which can rub against your foot. Over time this friction can cause blisters and other sores.
The seamless design of a diabetic sock greatly reduces friction, thus making the chance of developing blisters, sores and cuts very remote.
#2 No More Pressure – Building on the benefits of a seamless design, is the use of wrinkle-free material.
If a sock is prone to wrinkle then it can put pressure on your feet in much the same way as a seam would. You’ll notice this when a sock bunches up and ‘rolls’ together in certain areas.
The use of wrinkle-proof material is another way of reducing pressure and friction on your feet.
#3 Promote Healthy Circulation – The introduction of a non-binding top has been a key introduction to the diabetes sock.
The usual method for holding your socks in place is tighter stitching, or the use of a band of elastic at the top.
This is a pretty common design, and sounds like a good idea in theory. However, this practice can reduce blood flow and promote poor circulation.
For diabetes sufferers this is already a problem. Arteries can become blocked, and are typically less flexible as a result of high blood-sugar levels. So circulation is already reduced.
However, the non-binding top allows for greater foot circulation.
#4 Control Moisture – Moisture in the shoe can cause two problems. 1. Greater friction. If your sock becomes sodden then it can cling to your foot. The chance of friction and rubbing is much greater when your sock starts clinging. And what does friction cause? Blisters and other sores.
2. Breading ground for bacteria. A warm, moist shoe environment is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
Socks for diabetes are made predominantly from cotton, or other breathable materials. This means that any moisture can be allowed to evaporate, and your feet will sweat less in the first place.
Less moisture equals less friction and less bacteria. And this means a healthier, happier foot!
#5 Less Chance of Infection – I’ve spoken about the features of diabetic socks that reduce friction, increase circulation and reduce moisture. But I haven’t said much about why these features are so important.
So here it is: The unique sock design is used to minimize the chance of infection.
Reducing friction gets to the very core of the problem. If you stop friction then you greatly reduce the chance of cuts, sores and blisters from developing in the first place.
While most people take blisters and sores as a painful but short-lived inconvenience, this is not the case if you have diabetes…
Unfortunately for somebody with diabetes, blisters are more likely to turn into a foot ulcer. This is down to poor circulation and a loss of sensation in the foot (nerve damage).
If you duffer from poor circulation then it means your blood flow is somehow restricted. If this is the case then your body cannot heal as efficiently as it should. This leads to a higher chance of injuries becoming infected.
By not reducing circulation any further (non-binding tops) diabetic socks allow your body’s natural repair system to work at full-tilt.
Last but not least, let’s talk about moisture control.
As I’ve already mentioned, a warm moist shoe-environment is the favourite breeding ground for harmful bacteria. This bacteria will cause sores and blisters to develop into foot ulcers.
The breathable materials found in diabetic socks are a direct measure to combat this problem. So now there is no need to become one of the 20% of diabetes sufferers that suffers from a foot ulcer.
#6 Healing Time Reduced – Even with extra care and the best footwear you may still develop a blister or cut on your foot at some point.
However, for the same reasons why diabetes socks reduce the chance of infection, it also means any sores that do develop will heal much faster.
Do you suffer from diabetes? If so you’ll love the security that give you. Why not try the best selling for yourself and feel the difference.