Diabetic Socks

[Mosaic]

Can anyone pass on a link to a seller of good quality source of gent's diabetic socks? So many that I've come across are not useful ie very elasticated at the top - ideally need some with no elastication especially at the top.

[Sqad]

Mosaic.....sorry not an answer to your question but just a comment.

In all my years in the "trade" I have never heard of special socks for diabetics.

Are they a big deal.....what are they supposed to do?

[murraymints]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=diabetic+socks


Loads here

[woofgang]

sqad they are loose around the ankle and have no toe seam, so as to lessen the risk of injury to the foot. like these
http://www.sockshop.co.uk/products/viyella_softouch_non_elastic_wool_socks_with_hand_linked_toe/index

[ramblingrose]

Try M&S. They make elastic free socks. My husband is not a diabetic but has circulation problems and has worn these socks for years, they really help preventing swollen ankles. Go to www.marksandspencer.com and enter non elastic socks in the search box.

[Sqad]

woofy...thanks.

\\\so as to lessen the risk of injury to the foot. \\\

Don't understand why that should be............but ....fair enough.

[woofgang]

Sqad, Its a problem when people with diabetes get peripheral neuropathy. My experience is that, especially the blokes, wear any old socks, often nasty nylon ones that are so old and washed that they are actually crispy. The seams rub on the toes and the band at the sock top constricts the leg resulting in nasty sores that are the devil to heal.

[Sqad]

woofy.....mmmm!

[woofgang]

Sqad...???

[RATTER15]

woofgang, I agree, I know two diabetic men that had such problems arise from minor sores on toes, one had two toes amputated and one had a foot amputated I cant however say these problems arose from bad socks.

[woofgang]

when I worked on hospital wards, you could spot it a mile off....a red line or skin breakdown just along the base of the toes, red marks at the outer edge of the base of the big and little toes, less often a permanent mark around the calf, often with peeling skin or a bluish line. often the ankle swollen below the sock line and less swollen above. The temporary cure then was to confiscate their socks lol.

[Sqad]

woofy

\\\\\especially the blokes, wear any old socks, often nasty nylon ones that are so old and washed that they are actually crispy. \\\\

but don't diabetic socks often become nasty and crisp?

[boxtops]

I've had similar problems, not diabetic but with ankle swelling - socks with greater stretch around the top end are very welcome these days, the elastic otherwise can make a ridge round the leg and inhibit circulation. The same happens with pop socks, a ridge round my leg below the knee :-(

[woofgang]

Sqad, They aren't usually (ever?) made with a high nylon or elastic content so they tend to stay soft when washed.

[douglas9401]

"but don't diabetic socks often become nasty and crisp?"

Only when deep fried, Sqad.

[Sqad]

woofy.....right.

My knowledge of diabetes is simplistic and basic, but to me foot problems occur in diabetics when there is :

a) minor trauma to the foot.......loose socks wouldn't lessen that.
b) reduced circulation...arterial or venous......can't see that loose socks would be involved much or indeed at all with this.
c) reduced pain sensation........this might, just might be helped by loose socks.....don't know how.

boxy............diabetic socks helping circulation...........naaaah!

Well, they seem to be popular.

[woofgang]

no, they don't assist with circulation...they can help prevent things getting worse, eg by not constricting the calf.

[woofgang]

pressed submit too soon....having a smooth inside to the sock (no toe seam) removes a common source of minor foot trauma

[RATTER15]

This may help:

http://healthpsych.psy.vanderbilt.edu/diabetic%20Socks.htm

[Sqad]

RATTER.......from your link

\ The results showed that “sockwear is not a subject about which physicians feel particularly concerned.” Of the doctors who did make a recommendation, comfort was the most important aspect of choosing what socks to wear. Nurses were found to be more likely to recommend particular types of material for socks, and suggested cotton or wool rather than the synthetic blends found in specialty diabetic socks.\///

Perhaps that was why i had never heard of them until this morning.

[boxtops]

I don't think that's what I said, sqad :-) the tighter elasticated legwear causes an indent around ankle or calf, thus not helping fluid distribution (in my legs, anyway)