Sock Solution: Should Diabetics Sleep With Socks On?

As any diabetic will tell you, living with diabetes isn’t easy. It’s an illness that can affect many parts of your body—including the feet.

If you’re not serious about diabetic foot care, you risk facing serious complications. This can result in anything from foot infections to outright amputations. The good news: preventing these complications can be as easy as sleeping in the right socks.

Not sure why diabetics need to put serious thought into choosing their socks? Keep reading this article to find out!

Diabetics and Feet

Having diabetes makes you more likely to develop complications related to high blood sugar. One of them is neuropathy or nerve damage. Here are some common diabetes symptoms related to neuropathy in your feet:

• numbness of feet and toes

• burning or tingling sensation in your feet

• sharp pain in the feet that gets worse at night

• foot ulcers and deformities

• muscle weakness

If you’ve lost feeling in your feet, you could get injured and discover it much later. For instance, a simple pebble in your shoe could cause an ulcer. To prevent that, check your feet every day and wear the right footwear—even while sleeping.

Characteristics of Diabetic Socks

Diabetic socks have two purposes: to keep your feet warm and to minimize foot injuries. That said, they do come in many types. Here are some characteristics of diabetic socks:

• seamless: socks with seams can rub against the skin and cause ulcers

• warm: socks that help improve your blood circulation

• breathable: socks with breathable fabrics that keep your feet dry

• fitted: socks that conform to your leg and foot, preventing the loose fabric from rubbing against the skin

• square toe box: socks that let the toes breathe

• padded: socks with padding that cushions the foot

Choosing the Right Socks

If you haven’t developed neuropathy, wear the socks that you feel most comfortable in. If you’re seeing signs of diabetes that indicate neuropathy, consult with your doctor.

If you do have neuropathy, choosing your socks isn’t as simple. In this case, start by considering your condition. For example, if you have dry skin on your feet, go for socks made of a soft material.

Has your neuropathy advanced to the point you have no feeling in your feet? If so, you need socks that are a perfect fit. This will prevent injuries and ensure the socks won’t bunch up while you’re sleeping.

Precautions

If you’re suffering from poor circulation, compression socks tend to be a poor choice. That said, if you’re dealing with both poor circulation and edema, slight compression might work. Talk to your doctor to make sure your socks are a good fit.

Also, keep in mind that good socks won’t help if your shoes are pinching your feet. To avoid complications, make sure to wear the right diabetic slippers as well.

Diabetic Socks Made Easy

Practicing good feet care can go a long way toward keeping diabetes under control. Sleeping in the appropriate socks would be the perfect start. As long as you understand your condition, choosing the right socks won’t be an issue.

Interested in more health advice for diabetics? Check out our Health section to learn how to create the perfect diabetic diet plan!