Have you ever shopped for specialty socks and noticed both compression socks and diabetic socks, and thought to yourself, What is the difference? Aren’t they basically the same thing? They do in fact look similar but can serve different purposes. Understanding the differences between compression socks and diabetic socks can help you choose what is right for your feet.
The Purpose Behind Diabetic Socks
Diabetic socks are designed to focus on protecting and preventing injury to the feet. Protecting the feet is very important for people with diabetes because even a small blister or cut can become a much bigger issue if left unnoticed. Diabetes can often cause circulation issues and nerve damage and this makes the chance of getting and not healing a wound, higher. Diabetic socks are designed to have the following features:
- Seamless design: meaning no stitching that could otherwise cause friction/irritation.
- Non-binding tops: stretchy materials are often used, so blood circulation is not constricted.
- Moisture-wicking material: cotton and merino wool are often used to keep the feet dry and prevent bacteria overgrowth.
The main goal of diabetic socks is comfort, protection, and prevention rather than compression. There are however diabetic compression socks that combine the above-mentioned features with graduated compression and padding to help reduce swelling for those clients suffering from swelling.
The Purpose Behind Compression Socks
Compression socks are designed with one thing in mind: improving circulation. They are designed with graduated compression that gently squeezes or applies the most pressure to the ankle and less on legs to help push blood back towards the heart. This gentle boost in blood flow will help to reduce swelling and help to prevent conditions like varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis (blood clots). Compression socks are often prescribed to clients who:
- Spend long hours standing or sitting
- Travel frequently
- Clients who are recovering from surgery
- Clients experiencing leg fatigue or swelling
- Pregnant women
Clients must be measured and properly sized for compression socks because they fit tightly compared to diabetic socks and can cause constriction if they are too tight and not work well if they are too loose.
Simple Foot Care Tips You Can Do at Home
Even the best socks work best as part of a good foot care routine. Here are a few tips you can take to help your feet stay healthy:
- Keep your feet clean and dry: After you bathe, you should make sure to dry your feet, especially between toes.
- Moisturize regularly: Avoid putting lotion between the toes to prevent them from getting moist. A moist environment can cause infection from bacteria and fungi.
- Check your feet daily if you have diabetes: Use a handheld mirror to check all areas, even the bottom of the feet, for redness, blisters, cuts or sores.
- Change socks daily: This prevents bacteria and infections from developing. If you sweat a lot or have worked out, you may need to change them more often than once a day.
- Wear properly fitted shoes: Shoes should fit snugly without being too tight. You should be able to wiggle your toes freely. Ideally, if you have diabetes, the shoe should also be seamless.
The Bottom Line
While diabetic socks and compression socks may seem similar, they are designed with different end goals. One is to protect, while the other is to support circulation. Choosing the right sock can make a big difference in your foot health. If you are unsure which type of sock is best for you, a BioPed clinician can help guide you and make recommendations based on your specific needs. Additionally, they can recommend other supportive solutions like custom orthotics or proper footwear to help you stay comfortable so you can do more of what you love.
