Diabetes is one of the most feared diseases amongst individuals of all ages. Statistics show that over 1.5 million people die from this disease yearly. People can get diabetes for many reasons; however, some of the most common reasons are weight gain, inactive lifestyle, family history, and race or ethnicity. If you have been recently diagnosed with this disease, without any delay, set three goals for yourself- dry feet, reduced chances of injury, and improved blood flow. And to achieve these goals, the very first thing you need to do is buy diabetic socks.
You might have started wondering why socks. For a diabetic patient, foot care is of utmost importance because your feet are most susceptible to nerve and circulatory system damage. Diabetes can lower blood circulation and damage the nerves in the feet, so to avoid this problem, you must take good care of your feet. A fantastic collection of colourful diabetic socks is available in various online stores.
Who needs diabetic socks?
Although the answer seems self-explanatory: anyone diagnosed with diabetes should wear diabetic socks, not every diabetic person necessarily needs them. To find out whether you need them or not, answer the following questions:
- Have you ever experienced a change in foot colour or temperature?
- Do you have irritation, Blisters, fungal infection, or nerve damage problem?
- Do you feel a decreased pedal pulse?
- Do you have regularly wet or sweaty feet?
If your answer to these questions is “YES,” you should wear diabetic socks daily. For those who don’t have any of these foot problems, wearing regular socks that are well-fitted and comfortable is sufficient. However, all diabetic patients should wear them while travelling because sitting still for a long time increases the risk of swelling and blood clotting.
Features of diabetic socks
Moisture absorbent
The only way to avoid fungal infections and odour on feet is to keep them dry. For this reason, diabetic socks are made of moisture-absorbent material like acrylic fibres that wick all the moisture from the feet of the wearer and leave them dry. Besides fungal infection, blisters and other wounds also develop on wet, sweaty feet, so if you wear diabetic socks, you get the ultimate protection for your feet.
Seamless
Another essential feature of diabetic socks is that they are seamless that help prevents ulcers and blistering. People with persistent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or neuropathy are at a greater risk of ulcers or wounds caused by the rubbing of socks. This is the reason diabetic socks are made without seams.
Soft yarn with antimicrobial agents
Unlike regular socks made of cotton, colourful diabetic socks available today are made with bamboo and wool that naturally comes with antibacterial qualities. Moreover, anti-fungal qualities of copper or silver-infused yarn are incorporated in socks to prevent germs and fungus development.
It does not mean buying diabetes socks is alone sufficient. Checking your feet for bruises, cuts, redness, corns, blisters, and changes in nails and toes is the first step towards caring for them. People with diabetes should always keep their feet clean but remember not to use warm water to clean them because it may further damage the skin and cause other problems. You should completely dry your feet and apply some moisturiser on the top of the feet, but do not apply it between your toes as it might lead to infection. Next, if you have diabetes, never go barefoot; you should always wear socks and shoes while walking to avoid injuries. Besides this, always cut your nails straight across carefully and don’t forget to file the edges; otherwise, it may lead to ingrown toenails.