When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I thought special diabetic socks were a must. But...
After trying a couple of different brands, I'm not exactly sold on them. For one thing, they are very expensive when you compare them to other socks. I would gladly pay it if I thought they were better but I'm not sure they are what I need.
Medipeds is the brand of diabetic socks I've used the most. I think they are probably great if your feet are bigger or have a tendency to swell at the ankle. However, I don't have that problem. I did think that they felt good on my feet as I began to wear socks again when my foot was healing after the toe amputation. I did have some swelling then.
Now that my foot is as normal as it is ever going to be, I've not found Medipeds to be as comfortable. They are looser at the ankle which causes them to bunch a little in my shoe and I want zero rubbing. Also, after I have been walking a while I can feel the embroidered Medipeds logo on the bottom of my sock on my foot. It feels like there is something in my shoe. I am very thankful that I have very sensitive feet.
The second toe on my left foot is now my sort of my stabling toe after losing the big toe. It's been tender at the tip since this all happened. It's takes a bit more pressure in my shoes and I'm not so sure that the socks were doing anything to prevent that. I could still feel the seams too.
I also tried some diabetic socks from the orthopedist that were supposed to be totally seamless, but there was still a little something I could feel on my pinky toe when I wore them. They were really expensive and my second toe was still tender.
I know I sound very picky. I'm kind of the fabled Princess and the Pea when it comes to socks and shoes. The fear of God has been put into me about seams, socks, blisters and all those kinds of foot worries.
I thought I was just going to be stuck with my second toe being tender and worrying out how it all felt. Was it the shoes? Was it the socks?
Then one day I got brave.
I was shopping and looking for diabetic socks. I started feeling the seams of different socks. I didn't think they felt that different than the Medipeds. I was wondering if maybe it wasn't more a matter of fit than the seem anyway.
To make a long story short, I found Danskin Now ankle women's socks with arch support. They are made for high impact exercise and are cushioned. I could barely feel the seam.
So, I bought a pair. Wow! What a difference they made in how my feet felt in my shoes. I can honestly say that for the first time since my toe was removed my feet felt good in a shoe.
I went back for more.
The cushion in the socks was just what I needed. My second toe is no longer tender. I rarely feel the seams and they don't slip in my shoes. These socks give me a confidence about walking that I didn't have before.
These Danskin socks are also supposed to pull away moisture from my feet. I think that's a plus too.
I enjoy wearing a sock that doesn't scream to others by its label that I'm diabetic. You know what I mean?
The moral to my story is this. Wear what feels comfortable to you.
Diabetic socks such as Medipeds are fantastic if your feet swell and the pressure of a regular sock hurts you. By all means, wear them. I'm not saying they are a bad product. I'm just saying they didn't fit my needs.
Socks made for sports have a cushion and look out for you in their construction regarding the prevention of blisters etc. It's something to think about when considering your foot health.
I'm glad I found the Danskin socks. They are just right for me.
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