Diabetes can cause nerve damage known as ‘diabetic neuropathy’, which can cause tingling, pain or loss of feeling in the feet. This can make it harder to feel injuries such as blisters, ulcers, cuts and sores, which can become infected.

Diabetes can also decrease the amount of blood flow in the feet, which can make it harder for cuts and sores to heal. In serious cases, a bad infection may never heal and lead to gangrene and even amputation of the toe, foot or leg.

With this in mind, proper foot care is very important to prevent problems for people with diabetes. Along with keeping blood sugar in check and maintaining a healthy diet, wearing diabetic socks can help reduce the risk of foot issues by promoting blood flow and keeping the feet dry and comfortable.

No. Diabetic socks are designed to optimise circulation, whereas compression socks gently constrict the lower legs to reduce swelling and allow blood to more easily return to the heart.

However, compression socks aren’t always appropriate for diabetics because they can decrease blood flow and increase the risk of foot problems. With this said, some compression socks are specially designed to provide gentle compression that can help diabetics with swollen feet, without restricting blood flow. If you’re unsure which is right for you, you should consult with a relevant doctor to help you make the decision of which one is right for you.

Diabetic socks can help prevent common foot problems related to diabetes, such as reduced blood flow, pain and infection. One systematicreview of socks for people with diabetesfound that wearing diabetic socks may provide a simple and cost-effective means of protecting at-risk feet in diabetes, particularly in terms of reducing plantar pressure (and subsequent foot ulcers).