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If you or someone you know has Diabetes, you probably know that this disease is a leading cause of numerous foot problems for the 15.7 million people who have the difficult-to-control illness. Diabetic Socks can help.
Neuropathy, nervous-system impairment, is one of the major complications of Diabetes. The problem affects about 60 to 70 percent Diabetics. Because it can cause you to lose feeling in your feet or hands, you may not become immediately aware of injuries. Foot problems, specifically, carry a high risk.
According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, Diabetics must monitor feet daily, as complications can be as severe as amputation. During a foot inspection, you or your helper should look for puncture wounds, bruises, pressure areas, redness, warmth, blisters, ulcers, scratches, cuts and nail problems. Feel each foot for swelling. Examine between your toes. Check six major locations on the bottom of each foot: The tip of the big toe, base of the little toes, base of the middle toes, heel, outside edge of the foot and across the ball of the foot. Check for sensation in each foot.
With a Diabetic foot, a wound as small as a blister from wearing a tight shoe, or a sock that rubs the skin, can cause a lot of damage. Diabetes decreases your blood flow, so your injuries are slow to heal. When your wound is not healing, it’s at risk for infection. As a diabetic, your infections spread quickly. If you find any injury — no matter how slight — don’t try to treat it yourself. Go to a doctor right away.
Here’s some advice for buying the proper diabetic socks to take care of your feet:
- Keep your feet warm; sleep in loose-fitting socks.
- Though the best socks cost more, buy them! Wear clean, dry socks every day. Avoid socks with holes or wrinkles.
- Diabetic crew socks provide a loose top for better circulation and a full cushion across the bottom for comfort and blister protection.
- Buy seam-free socks also help reduce the risk of skin irritations and foot ulcers.
- Avoid stockings with constricting elastic tops.
- Thin cotton socks are more absorbent for summer wear.
- Look for square-toes socks that won’t squeeze your toes and fit better in your shoes.
- Designed for those with serious edema, or heavier people, look for socks that can stretch up to an amazing 25 inches in circumference.
Some brand names to look for when seeking those properties include CoolMax, a moisture-wicking fiber that help keep the feet dry and healthy. Silipos® Arthritic / Diabetic Gel Socks have a gel insole to provide added support, cushioning, and comfort. SmartKnit® Wide Seamless Socks with X-STATIC™ are designed for people with serious edema or larger legs and feet. X-STATIC™ high-tech silver fibers act as a natural antimicrobial, which helps keep the skin healthy.
The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society also recommends these shoe basics for healthier feet:
- Never walk barefoot, or in sandals or flip-flops.
- Choose and wear your shoes carefully. Buy new shoes late in the day when your feet are larger.
- Buy shoes that are comfortable without a “breaking in” period.
- Avoid pointed-toe styles and high heels.
- Look for leather uppers and deep toe boxes.
- Don’t wear the same pair everyday.
From a blister standpoint, you should also experiment with thickness of socks and the way they fit in your shoes. If your socks thick, leaving no room, you need bigger shoes or thinner socks. When buying shoes, bring along the sock you plan to wear.
When getting dressed, some Diabetics find that compression garments are easier to put on when you first get out of bed, before swelling occurs. Skin should be dry, or lightly apply cornstarch powder. Remove your rings and jewelry that make it difficult to apply socks properly. Avoid bunching the fabric, which is similar to creating a super rubber band. The final tip is to apply moisturizer to your legs and feet in the evening, not before putting on socks.
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Posted by blogger as Articles, Helpful Socks at 7:18 PM PDT
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The correct sock can do amazing things for the feet, such as keeping them warm, dry, and blister-free. Yet they can’t change the way genetics or basic growth patterns. It seems from research that socks will only help keep feet comfortable; it’s shoes that may make an overall difference in toe deformities.
Hammer, claw, and mallet toes are toes that do not have the right shape. They may look odd and sometimes hurt. Muscles within the toe are to blame for the toe bending into an odd position at one or more joints. These problems almost always happen in the four smaller toes, not the big toe.
An Internet search on Yahoo Health and publications from The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons report that a hammer toe is a toe that bends toward the floor at the middle toe joint. It usually happens in the second toe. This causes the middle toe joint to rise up. Hammer toes often occur with bunions.
Claw toe often happens in the four smaller toes at the same time. The toes bend up at the joints where the toes and the foot meet. They bend down at both the middle joints and at the joints nearest the tip of the toes. This causes the toes to curl down toward the floor.
A mallet toe often happens in the second toe, but it may happen in the other toes as well. The toe bends down at the joint closest to the tip of the toe.
Talk to a doctor if you notice that your toe looks odd or hurts. Home treatment often helps, but if you do not treat the disfigured toe right away, you are more likely to need surgery. Toe problems develop over years and are common in adults. Women have more of these problems than men because shoes, such as high heels.
Tight shoes are the most common cause of these toe problems. Toe muscles to get out of balance. If a shoe forces a toe to stay in a bent position for a long period, muscles tighten and tendons shorten. Over time, the toe muscles cannot straighten the toe at any time.
These disfigured toes often rub against footwear, and shoes that fit could be hard to find. You can treat hammer, claw, and mallet toes by wearing footwear with lots of toe room, using pads, and supports in the shoe, and doing toe-stretching exercises. Doing these things could give the toe room to straighten, cushion the toe and hold it straight, and make the toe muscles stronger and more flexible.
Surgery is possible, but results are not readily published. Talk to your doctor about your specific problem.
Because people with hammer toe may have corns or calluses on the top or tip of the toe, wearing the proper sock is important. Wear socks that aren’t too tight and have ample room in the toe box of the shoe. Synthetic socks are good because of their wicking properties. Keeping skin problems dry will help them heal faster.
Changing the type of footwear worn is another important step, according to the Academy. Buy shoes with a toe box (toe area) that’s high and broad, and can accommodate the hammer toes. This should lessen friction against the toes. The goal is to relieve pressure, reduce friction, and transfer forces from the sensitive areas.
When worn with the correct type of shoes (with lots of room for toes), my personal experience has shown that wearing Toe Socks helps straighten the big toes when they are pointing inwards due to wearing pointy toe shoes . However, when we did research, we could not find a study verifying that for the general public. It is a cheap test to try - but try at your own risk.
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Posted by blogger as Articles, Helpful Socks at 10:46 AM PDT
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It’s the weekend — two days just for you. Sure you have to complete house work, yard work, social obligations, and family time. Just remember to reserve a portion of your weekend for your need to relax and rejuvenate from the ground up, preferably by kicking back, elevating the legs and pampering your two feet that have served you well all week long.The pampering begins with a good massage of your feet. Rub them gently as you relax, or take a warm bath to tickle the toes. When you are done, it’s time to wrap those feet in the most comfortable socks you can find.
If you just got out of a warm tub, or winter’s chill is in the air, “spabox” makes the ideal sock to keep the warmth flowing. They make a Spa Sock that swaddles your feet in warm, soothing relief. Just pop Spa Socks in the microwave. Their polyester fleece socks can be placed in the microwave for 30 seconds, put them on and send tired, sore feet on a weekend vacation. Spa socks release nurturing heat to soothe tired tootsies and achy arches. Let your toes bask in the wonderful warmth and soothing scents of cinnamon, clove, and eucalyptus.
Sahalie is another company that will help your feet go that extra mile. Their Wooby™ socks are “baby-blanket-soft” microchenille Wooby fabric. These quarter-low socks are perfect for moderate activity, everyday wear, or just hanging out around the house. The high loft of Wooby fabric traps heat and adds cushioning. They are machine washable, and heat from dryer brings socks back to original size and shape.
Karen Neuburger is another designer known for sock fashion and comfort. Neuburger offers Chenille socks and super-soft slipper socks. If you need a sturdier bottom than a fuzzy sock offers, look no further than the Karen Neuberger Lounge Socks. These cozy slipper socks are all about comfort with durable synthetic soles. They feature a shorter, ankle-length style, and are a machine washable polyester/spandex material.
The company’s Imported Bootie Socks, also known as footies cover your feet but don’t reach to your ankles, perfect for hiding in shoes or sleeping in. Their Rayon No Shows are soft footie socks with seamless toes, perfect for the no sock look in sneakers while keeping your feet dry and protected from blisters. Neuberger’s World’s Softest Spa Socks are specially crafted for comfort. They have ultra-plush knit inside as well as out (socks are reversible). Lush polyester chenille offers cozy warmth without weight.
These types of socks aren’t limited to the higher price ranges, however. Local retail and discount stores offer alternatives that are lower priced. You may just sacrifice some quality and longevity while saving a few dimes.
Perhaps no company says “weekend” like L.L. Bean. Though the famous catalog retailer sells in every category of outdoor gear, people wanting comfortable weekend socks should look at their Fleece Socks. They can be worn alone indoors, or in clogs, hiking shoes, or sandals. Made from soft, quick-drying, 200-weight fleece, the L.L. Bean Fleece Socks are comfortable with non-chafing flat lock seams.
Posted by blogger as Articles, Helpful Socks at 12:24 PM PDT
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Often we want to be healthier, most want to be happier, and many want to be wealthier. Usually when making a new years resolution, we try to in some way include one of these goals. So what does this have to do about socks?
For those wanting to be healthier, getting atheletic socks for exercise can help prevent blisters and prevent sweaty feet.
For those wanting to be happier, Toe socks can often bring a smile to most peoples faces.
And for those wanting more wealth, often reusing things saves money. See our Uses for Single Socks for ideas on how to clean up your cluttering single socks and save money at the same time!
Posted by blogger as Articles, Helpful Socks at 12:23 PM PST
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When in college I needed Physical Education credit. Not being very good at sports at the time, I took the safest class I could find: jogging. Well, I found that I loved jogging — but my feet didn’t. I first got the best jogging shoes I could afford. That helped some — but not enough. What I found really helped were Arch Support Socks. They seemed to help my feet feel fresh during those 10 mile jogs. I could walk around campus (and Penn State has a HUGE campus!) and be fine after class.
So if you love jogging .. but are getting sore arches… try different socks, they may make a world of difference for you too!
Posted by blogger as Articles, Helpful Socks at 2:49 PM PDT
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One usually doesn’t think of socks when one wants to be happier. But let me tell you the story of work yesterday.
Yesterday I went to work in toe socks and sandals (ya, in California Tech companies, you can do that 
). It was a normal day at work, with the usual stresses and trials. Yet, everyone (yes! I mean EVERYONE!) loved my socks. People smiled. People laughed. It felt good!
You see, my socks had smiley faces on every toe. People loved my Smiley Face Toe Socks. Even the grumpiest of the people couldn’t help but laugh. It was quite amazing and quite fun. It kept me smiling too. So when you need a few extra smiles, consider smiley face toe socks.
Posted by blogger as Articles, Helpful Socks at 8:34 PM PDT
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