Looking for a pair of socks for diabetic users? Some tips to guide you choosing one for your loved ones.

There are a variety of reasons why diabetics need special foot protection. The main reason is that 60-70 percent of diabetics develop some form of neuropathy in their feet. If not taken good care of, it will sometime develops into diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Please see my previous blog for details. Essentially, the elevated level of blood sugar causes damage to your nerves, most often in the feet or legs, although it can occur in other locations as well.

If your nerves are damaged, then you can’t feel what I going on with your feet. Also, the elevated blood sugar can cause decreased blood flow to your feet, slowing the healing process. Thus, small things can easily become much bigger problems. That blister or small cut, can easily become infected and very hard to heal.

So, where do the socks fit in? You want socks that don’t do any damage to your feet. For example, they should be too tight or have heavy seems on them that can cause blisters. They also need to keep moisture away from your feet so the risk of infections is reduced.

TOP 10 Tips for choosing

These factors are not in any particular order of importance. Also, even if you choose the perfect sock, make sure you discard them if they get any holes in them or become worn.

1. Fit: You want socks that fit. They should not be too tight, which can cause circulation and other problems. Likewise, they should not be too big, since these can cause blisters.
2. Clean: Okay, messy Marvin, make sure you put on clean socks daily. If your socks are soiled then they can more easily cause infections.
3. Dry: You want socks that keep your feet dry. If your feet are damp or moist, then fungus can more easily grow. This factor overlaps a variety of other factors, such as the material you choose.
4. Thickness: Try and avoid a very bulky sock. Obviously, if you are going snowshoeing, you want a thick sock that can keep you warm. However, bulky socks can cause extra moisture and/or can cause bunching, which can lead to blisters, etc. Try and balance your activity level with the appropriate socks for diabetics.
5. Shape: Square toes work best because they won’t squeeze your toes.
6. Elastic Tops: Some socks have very tight elastic tops. Obviously, you want socks to stay up, but socks for diabetics need to not squeeze your calves/ankles too much. Many diabetic socks have a special weave on the top to keep the sock up without unduly squeezing your leg. It is therefore recommended to go for those non-elastic top one.
7. Seams: The less seams the better. Large seams can cause your feet to rub unnecessarily, leading to injuries.
8. Color: If at all possible, where light colored socks, so you can see if any injuries have occurred.
9. Cushion Sole: As stated above, you want to avoid bulky socks. However, a little extra cushion on the sole of the sock can be helpful. As we get, ahem, older, the soles of our feet become more sensitive.
10. Material: This is the big issue for diabetic socks. Some folks say man made material is better, such as acrylic. Other folks say natural material is best, such as cotton or wool.

There are a variety of reasons why diabetics need special foot protection. The main reason is that 60-70 percent of diabetics develop some form of neuropathy in their feet. Essentially, the elevated level of blood sugar causes damage to your nerves, most often in the feet or legs, although it can occur in other locations as well.
If your nerves are damaged, then you can’t feel what I going on with your feet. Also, the elevated blood sugar can cause decreased blood flow to your feet, slowing the healing process. Thus, small things can easily become much bigger problems. That blister or small cut, can easily become infected and very hard to heal.
So, where do the socks fit in? You want socks that don’t do any damage to your feet. For example, they should be too tight or have heavy seems on them that can cause blisters. They also need to keep moisture away from your feet so the risk of infections is reduced.
- See more at: http://www.diabeteswellbeing.com/socks-for-diabetics/#sthash.KoyY14t6.dpuf

There are a variety of reasons why diabetics need special foot protection. The main reason is that 60-70 percent of diabetics develop some form of neuropathy in their feet. Essentially, the elevated level of blood sugar causes damage to your nerves, most often in the feet or legs, although it can occur in other locations as well.
If your nerves are damaged, then you can’t feel what I going on with your feet. Also, the elevated blood sugar can cause decreased blood flow to your feet, slowing the healing process. Thus, small things can easily become much bigger problems. That blister or small cut, can easily become infected and very hard to heal.
So, where do the socks fit in? You want socks that don’t do any damage to your feet. For example, they should be too tight or have heavy seems on them that can cause blisters. They also need to keep moisture away from your feet so the risk of infections is reduced.
- See more at: http://www.diabeteswellbeing.com/socks-for-diabetics/#sthash.KoyY14t6.dpuf

There are a variety of reasons why diabetics need special foot protection. The main reason is that 60-70 percent of diabetics develop some form of neuropathy in their feet. Essentially, the elevated level of blood sugar causes damage to your nerves, most often in the feet or legs, although it can occur in other locations as well.
If your nerves are damaged, then you can’t feel what I going on with your feet. Also, the elevated blood sugar can cause decreased blood flow to your feet, slowing the healing process. Thus, small things can easily become much bigger problems. That blister or small cut, can easily become infected and very hard to heal.
So, where do the socks fit in? You want socks that don’t do any damage to your feet. For example, they should be too tight or have heavy seems on them that can cause blisters. They also need to keep moisture away from your feet so the risk of infections is reduced.
- See more at: http://www.diabeteswellbeing.com/socks-for-diabetics/#sthash.KoyY14t6.dpuf

Losing an arm or a leg? The culprit - DFU (Diabetic Foot Ulcer) ......scary

Losing an arm or a leg? It is not after you had a feast at some 5 stars hotel, it is because of DFU (Diabetic Foot Ulcer)......scary, really scary even for pirate standard.

Diabetes could have some serious consequences on your foot and limps, if you don't take good care of them. Diabetes would often restricts blood supply to the foot (always have cold hand and feet, ring any bells?), making it very hard to heal a wound from cuts,  from some minor infections or very often from DFU (Diabetic Foot Ulcers). To make matter worst, prolong diabetes would cause nerve damage that takes away feeling from your foot, which also means when you sustain a small cut, you will not notice them immediately. If the wound is not being taken care of timely, amputation might follow suit when all options are exhausted.

The Stages of DFU (Diabetic Foot Ulcers):

SOCKS wear design & technology - how socks wear had help people with diabetes

Recently, I had become more and more exposed to socks wear (while searching for a pair of comfortable socks); their diverse type, the technology behind it, and most importantly how socks had evolve into something that incorporate design, functionality and fashion (with their wonderful multicolor).

Among all, there is this type of feature-heavy socks - diabetic socks that cater for diabetic patients that may have special foot care needs for their socks. Generally, diabetic socks are designed with technology that helps to promote blood circulation (non-binding), to increase vascular flow, to prevent foul smell (anti microbial with Silver technology), to prevent risk of bruises / foot ulcers, to wicked away moisture, to prevent toe from blistering and pressure and to keep feet warm.

So, although on outside they might look similar to normal socks but essentially they have features that caters for multiple conditions of a diabetic patients. This is all because diabetes generally raises the level of blood sugar, which in turn can increase the risk of blistering and foot users. So with the introduction of these non-binding, smooth toe seam, and padded diabetic socks, diabetic patients that previously suffers array of symptoms like foul smell, poor blood circulation, bruises caused by binding of socks and rough toe seam now can manage them.

Please see the below diagram for diabetic socks.