According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100 million adults in the United States have diabetes or prediabetes. It is a disease in which the body fails to produce or respond to the hormone insulin, resulting in an inability to regulate blood sugar levels due to abnormal carbohydrate metabolism. One of the main effects this disease has on the body is its effect on the lower extremities. This is where compression stockings can help. Learn about the ways diabetes harms the body and how compression stockings can be used to manage the adverse side effects of the disease.
Side effects of diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that can negatively affect nearly every organ in the body, including the eyes, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, gums, teeth, heart, nerves, and blood vessels. When it comes to diabetes, the trick to managing it is to practice careful awareness and management to prevent and treat side effects.
What you need to know about wearing compression stockings for diabetics
Compression stockings help reduce swelling and fatigue
The disease increases the likelihood of damage to blood vessels and nerves, which can lead to poor circulation, pain, cramping, changes in skin color and loss of sensation in various parts of the body. When blood vessels are damaged in people with diabetes, the walls of the blood vessels in the legs can lose elasticity, causing the valves inside to pull apart. This can be detrimental to circulating blood, as these valves are responsible for opening and closing to regulate the flow of blood in the correct direction. When the valve is pulled apart due to weakening of the vessel wall, blood can flow in two directions, one in the wrong direction, causing the blood to collect in the wrong place. These circulation problems can cause peripheral edema, or swelling, around the feet, ankles, and legs. Because of this, foot problems are very common in people with diabetes, and in severe cases, some people with the disease may experience harsh conditions that lead to amputation. But it doesn't need to reach that! If you commit to combating the extreme negative effects of diabetes, you can get the best possible control over the condition at hand...or underfoot. Compression stockings can address symptoms caused by nerve and blood vessel damage.
What are compression socks?
Compression stockings are a special type of stockings that fit snugly against a person's feet and legs. They're usually made from stretchy fabric that's been tailored to put more pressure around the ligaments than other types of socks. Many people will use what's called "progressive compression," which means that the subtle pressure wrapped around the ligaments is tighter on the bottom of the foot and in the ankle area, and the clothing gets looser higher up the leg.
What are diabetic socks?
Diabetic socks are designed to minimize foot injury and keep blood flowing. They can be non-binding, which means the cuffs at the top of the sock won't penetrate into your legs and interfere with your blood circulation. They sometimes have seamless toes and are made of moisture-wicking fabric.
Like compression socks, many diabetic socks are also available in solid colors. Our non-binding socks come in florals, stripes, argyles, and even pet or nature. Shop men's and women's graphic no-restraint socks.
You can see that diabetic socks are very different from compression socks, they provide opposite benefits.
How Diabetic Stockings Are Different From Compression Stockings
Who uses compression socks?
For a variety of reasons, many people have compression socks as their must-have equipment. Compression stockings work by putting pressure on the legs and feet to promote better blood flow. So basically anyone looking for relief from lower extremity pain can benefit from wearing compression stockings. Those who have just had surgery, experience varicose veins, have difficulty moving their legs, or stand up for their profession all day will gravitate towards this type of socks. Athletes, pilots, pregnant women and people with diabetes can also benefit greatly from wearing them.
How do compression stockings work for people with diabetes?
The meticulous and intentional design of the compression stockings promotes the flow of oxygen-rich blood through the arteries to the muscles so they can relax. At the same time, the veins are under pressure, pushing more blood back to the heart, allowing the circulation to move. The physics of this scientific, progressive pressure design can effectively promote blood flow to extremities with diabetic complications.
Compression stockings can help fight the symptoms of the disease by reducing swelling, pain, pain, and fatigue in the legs and feet. They are a viable non-invasive treatment for people with diabetes who suffer from poor circulation and nerve damage in the feet and legs. Compression stockings increase nerve sensitivity and keep swelling at bay.
People with diabetes must also be more careful with foot injuries, such as cuts or scrapes. When these are ignored, poor circulation and the body's limited ability to repair these ulcers can lead to life-threatening conditions. Extra padded, fitted, wrinkle-resistant compression socks can help prevent shoe cuts by reducing the chance of friction.
Diabetic Compression Stockings: A Guide to Helping You Choose the Best Pair
Can diabetics benefit from using compression stockings?
Compression stockings are effective in controlling conditions such as edema and venous insufficiency that affect people with diabetes. But tight compression stockings restrict blood flow to the feet, which can be a problem for people with diabetes. But some people suffer from poor circulation and swelling. A recent study found that mild compression socks improved edema without worsening circulation in people with diabetes. If you have both edema and diabetes, these lightweight compression stockings may be perfect for you.
Where can I buy compression socks?
Compression stockings can be the support you need to manage your diabetes and manage its side effects. If you're ready to continue your daily struggle to overcome diabetes and get your blood circulating in your lower extremities, it's time to invest in a high-quality pair of compression stockings.
ZSZBACE offers world-class compression stockings that address the issues people with diabetes may experience. Our socks increase blood circulation to your lower ligaments by helping reduce swelling and pain. Not all people with diabetes experience the same conditions, so you need to choose compression socks that meet your specific needs. You can buy compression socks that cover the feet, ankles, and calves, or compression sleeves that primarily cover the calf area. Both options will put approximately 20 – 30 mmHg of pressure on your ligaments, and the progressive compression feature will apply maximum pressure at the ankle level and gradually reduce the pressure as you move the sock or sleeve up. This forces the blood to flow upwards and reduces swelling.