If you or your loved ones have diabetes, chances are, you’ve been recommended by the treating physician to wear diabetic socks. They even might have recommended some brands that you bought and tried.

As a patient, it’s definitely understandable that you accepted your doctor’s advice without further thought. You wear these diabetic socks for some time and think that maybe they’re just a complete scam.

In this article, you’ll understand the ins and outs of diabetic socks such as how they function, do they actually work, and some brands that we recommend. In the end, you’re going to be more informed in making the best decision for your own feet.

What are diabetic socks?

Diabetic socks are specialized socks made for those with diabetic feet. They’re manufactured with features that aid in the recovery and prevention of complications associated with diabetes mellitus.

Aside from diabetic socks, the medical engineering has provided us with other socks for different medical conditions. For example, graduated compression socks are for those with edema and thrombo-embolus deterrent (TED) socks are for prevention of blood clots.

What features do they have?

From moisture-wicking to protective cushioning, there are multiple reasons on why you should opt for diabetic socks instead of regular socks. The next few points will explain specific features that these socks have, as well as studies that back them up.

1. Moisture-wicking

Moisture-wicking is a term that is thrown around, and it often get misunderstood. Moisture-wicking does not mean that the fabric won’t get wet, or that it’s waterproof.

Instead, it means that the fabric works well at transferring moisture from the sweat of your feet from the skin to the outer surface of the socks. At the surface, it gets better ventilation and dries more easily.

The fabric achieves this through a concept called capillary action. Capillaries are essential tiny tubes that can transfer fluid, even against gravity. It’s how plants can bring water from the soil up to their highest leaves.

In the case of fabrics, alternating types of fabrics that each push and pull water drive the moisture from the skin to the surface.

Moisture is the both the friend and foe of diabetic feet. On one hand, you need to moisturize the skin over your foot and the soles to prevent dry skin and cracking. On the other hand, you don’t want to over-moisturize especially between the toes as this can cause fungal or bacterial growth.

Fungi and bacteria love both wet and hot environments. When you’re walking, even exercising in the same socks and shoes throughout the day, the feet get really sweaty and hot. Multiply that with the days of the week and a weak immune system, it’s only a matter of time before fungus start to grow.

An article published in the National Library of Medicine explains how the more hydrophilic or “water-liking” a fabric is, the easier it is for bacteria to grow. Consequently, the more hydrophobic or “water-hating” the fabric is, the lesser bacteria will grow.

Of course, we can control how much moisturizer cream we apply on the skin. But that is not the case for sweat. There’s no way to control how much your skin releases sweat in a day.

So, moisture-wicking is definitely an important characteristic that every diabetic sock must have.

2. Seamless stitches

When designing any piece of clothing be it shirts, pants, and even socks, the designer has to cut out piece of the fabric. Then, they assemble the fabric by stitching them together. The joining lines of the resulting fabric is called a seam.

You can look for a seam in almost any piece of clothing you can get your hands on. Simply turn the clothing inside-out, and look for a line of excess fabric, stitched neatly. For socks, they’re usually two seams: one near the toes, one near the top.

One thing you’ll notice on a seam is that it brings a little bit of fabric inwards. This is to make the stitches firmer and prevent the seam from being torn easily.

You don’t want a seam when wearing socks as a diabetic. The excess protruding fabric from the seam produces friction when it rubs against the skin. Repeated friction over time can irritate the skin causing blistering and cuts.

As a chronic diabetic, you would want to avoid even the slightest chance of injuring the skin of the feet. This is to prevent wounds that won’t heal, and that will be at risk of infections.

So, diabetic socks have been engineered with seamless stitches to prevent all this from happening. If you buy a diabetic sock and turned it inside out, you’ll find a seamless continuation form the top of the sock to the bottom.

It’s such an unnoticeable detail, but you would definitely appreciate it over the long run.

3. Comfort

Before diabetes was even a thing, people already prioritized comfort in their clothing – socks not excluded.

Choosing a soft material for socks is even more important for diabetic feet. The softer the fabric is, the gentler it is on the skin. You need to handle your feet how you’d handle a newborn baby.

In the world of fashion, there are various fabrics that are soft such as cotton, wool, viscose, and polyester. These materials vary in their origins, pricing, and even durability.

When choosing a soft fabric for diabetic socks, we have to take into account practicality. You don’t just get the softest fabric you can find and mold it into a sock.

For example, pure cotton is not a wise choice because even though its soft and breathable, its actually hydrophilic. Hydrophilic literally means “likes water”, so it absorbs water like a sponge and holds on to it.

As a sock, cotton would actually hold on to sweat and make your feet moist. Although there is a work around in which the cotton fibers can be alternated with some other hydrophobic fabric to achieve moisture-wicking.

A solid choice for diabetic socks is actually synthetic fabrics. Polyester, nylon, and spandex are common choices used in these socks because of their softness, durability, and stretchability.

For example, polyester might be a bit less soft than cotton, but it is definitely lighter, more durable, and dries quicker. Spandex is often used along with polyester to add more stretchability.

4. Non-binding

Elasticity is a property which dictates an item’s ability to return to its original shape after stretching. Day-to-day socks are known to be elastic, especially near their top. This is to prevent the sock from sagging downwards down to the ankles.

Even if you don’t have diabetes, if you wear a top binding sock for more than an hour, you will notice that it leaves a mark on the skin. This is kind of similar to marks we’ll have on our cheeks when we had the most diabolical sleep of our lives.

Binding tops of sock exert pressure on the skin, and to structures deeper to it. Veins, arteries, and nerves are vital structures that will be obstructed if this happens. This might not be a big deal for healthy individuals, but for diabetics with compromised blood and nerve supply to their feet, it can cause issues.

If blood is not properly delivered to the feet, oxygen won’t be delivered as efficiently to the skin. When you get even a small cut, it’ll take a long time to heal.

When your nerves are constricted, your feet will start to feel tingly, and in worse scenarios you’ll lose sensations such as pain, touch, and balance.

So, a non-binding top is a crucial feature in diabetic socks in that the sock is made without a binding top. They do this by reducing the elasticity of the tops of the sock, by way of using various elastic fibers such as spandex to prevent the sock from sagging downwards.

5. Anti-microbial properties

Infection is one of the most dreaded complications for diabetic feet. In the early stages of diabetes, sure, your body can still recover from a bacterial infection. But as the disease progresses, your skin would be vulnerable to cuts and infections that take longer than normal to heal.

In some cases, the infection won’t heal at all and spread into the muscle, ligaments, and even to the bone. Of course, amputations are the last resort.

Therefore, diabetic socks should be equipped with the capability to reduce bacterial and fungal growth when you’re wearing them.

Diabetic socks do these by the type of fabric it’s made of. Some fabrics are better at fighting off bacteria than others. For example, cotton is one of the most susceptible fabrics towards bacterial growth.

This is because, chemically, cotton is made of long chains of glucose or sugar because of their plant origins. Cotton socks might not look tasty in our eyes, but germs love them. That’s why your cotton socks need to be washed regularly, else they will stink the whole house.

In addition to that, cotton’s water-absorbing properties will hold on to more moisture. Bacteria thrive in moist conditions. An article published in the National Library of Medicine explains how the more hydrophilic a fabric is, the easier it is for bacteria to grow.

However, even bacteria-hoarding fabric like cotton can be transformed into becoming anti-microbial. A study published by the American Chemical Society found that coating fabrics with copper can kill bacteria as quick as 45 seconds.

On the other side of the spectrum, we have polyester. Polyester is a type of plastic made from petroleum. Therefore, it’s the last thing bacteria want to get their hands on. Combined with its water-repelling properties, polyester does not suit well for germs.

In fact, other synthetic fabrics such as some variants of nylon like nylon-3 can also kill bacteria just as good, according to a study by Samuel H. Gellman and colleagues.

6. Protective cushioning

Finally, a good sock for diabetics must have extra protection in place. The most important area to be protected is the sole.

Because of reduced sensation due to damage to the nerves, diabetics don’t immediately notice if something like a pebble got into their shoes. They will continue walking with the pebble under their soles and injure their soles on every step they make.

Even if it’s a small pebble, the pressure that it causes can weaken the integrity of the skin and cause a wound or blister. Once the skin breaks, bacteria will invade that will lead to an infection.

Therefore, diabetic socks have padded soles to protect your feet at all times. Be it when you’re wearing a shoe or just walking around your home in a pair of socks. It’s always good practice to regularly inspect the inside of your shoes throughout the day, but we sometimes forget, right?

Now, protective cushioning helps the feet by reduce pressure that is felt at the soles. Because of reduced sensation felt by diabetics, they may not realize that they walk around with heavier steps than usual, to better feel the floor they’re walking on.

An article published in the Diabetes Care Journal in 1989 wanted to test out how padded socks affect the pressure over the soles. They found out that these socks do in fact reduce plantar pressure, especially over the forefoot.

They also did a follow-up study which followed 10 patients who wore padded socks, and confirmed that these socks were effective even after 6 months.

Do they really work?

Now, the age-old question after we’ve listed the important features of diabetic socks: do they really work?

As in, do diabetic socks actually work in preventing the foot-related complications of diabetes mellitus, and improving recovery for those who have just had those complications?

Diabetic socks are not the all-in-one solution in preventing the dreaded complication of diabetes such as diabetic foot ulcers. To an extent, they do help protect the foot from injury and infection.

The padded soles, anti-microbial fabric, non-binding tops and other features do indeed help protect the feet from germs and cuts. They’re certainly a wise investment alongside diabetic shoes and moisturizing products.

However, if you don’t inspect the feet thoroughly, take care of your feet daily, nor regularly see a podiatrist, then diabetic socks would just be another accessory for your feet.

What brands do we recommend?

That being said, there are numerous products on the market right now that promote themselves as the most diabetic-friendly socks. It’s definitely time-consuming to look at each one and make your own analysis, so we’ve done the heavy work for you.

1. Dr. Scholl’s

Dr. Scholl’s is a company founded on passion towards footwear for the best foot health. Founded by Dr William Scholl in 1947, the company boasts a long list of products such as socks, shoes, sandals, and even orthotics.

Dr. Scholl’s diabetic socks tick almost all of the criteria for an ideal diabetic sock. Approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association, their socks are available for both men and women in a variety of sizes and half sizes for a snug fit.

Made with 96% polyester, the socks a germ-resistant and odorless. Mixing in a little spandex adds more stretchability to the fabric. They also use moisture-wicking tech to keep the feet dry at all times.

The toes of the sock are seamless with their Invisiseam technology, so no worrying about irritating the toes or forefoot. Moreover, their tops are non-binding to protect circulation.

Their socks also have what they call TempRite, which makes the sock respond to your body temperature for maximum comfort. The paddings under the sole also protect your feet from rough surfaces.

All in all, Dr. Scholl’s socks are a solid choice with a long history of success.

2. Doctor’s Choice

Doctor’s Choice is a brand which focuses on delivering the best experience for those with foot problems. They have an array of both diabetic and compression socks to choose from.

They sought out to make socks that are not only medically effective, but also fashionable. That’s why they go out of their way to make socks in different styles and colors.

For example, their choices of sock for men include crew socks, quarter socks, and ankle socks in colors such as white, grey, and charcoal. Not to mention, their women socks have the addition of pink and purple.

All of Doctor’s Choice socks are seamless, moisture-wicking, have non-binding socks, and have full cushioning. They’re made with up to 96% polyester which makes them bacteria-resistant and machine-washable.

3. Hugh Ugoli

Just like Dr. Scholl’s and Doctor’s Choice, Hugh Ugoli also specializes in creating the best socks for their customers. Started in 2016, this environmental-friendly makes about 2 million socks per year.

Hugh Ugoli has taken the cotton approach, instead of the conventional polyester option. You might prefer this over petroleum-based products, so that’s why we included it in our list.

Their socks tick all the checkboxes that we’re looking for: seamless toes, non-binding tops, soft material, moisture-wicking, and cushioned soles.

In addition to that, their socks, such as their men’s diabetic sock are a mix of 70% cotton, 17% polyamide, 10% polyester, and 3% elastane. They’re also available in a ton of colors.

The option of cotton socks for women are just as impressive. Black, charcoal, and navy blue are just some of the many colors they’re available in.

If you’re up for something really different, then you should give their diabetic bamboo socks for men a try. Bamboo fabrics, according to a study published in the Indian Journal of Fibre & Textile Research, are inherently anti-bacterial.

However, the researchers did mention that the fabric needs to be made of at least 80% bamboo fibres for the anti-microbial effects to take place. Luckily, that’s exactly the percentage of bamboo present in Hugh Ugoli socks.

For women, the color options of the women bamboo diabetic socks are even more extensive and vibrant. It’s really hard to find socks in pink, pool blue, and purple these days especially high-quality ones.