Diabetics commonly wear compression socks to alleviate a lot of issues that come from having diabetes. For instance, they can improve blood circulation, reduce pain and swelling in the legs, and prevent blood clots.
For those with diabetes, here’s why compression socks are crucial.
1. Diabetics need help with circulation.
Having good blood circulation is essential, but sometimes circulation is disrupted for people with diabetes. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels by creating fatty buildup, which reduces blood flow as the vessels harden and narrow. Once blood circulation is negatively impacted, the skin can become weak, ulcers may develop, and wound healing slows down.
Supporting blood circulation with diabetic compression socks is essential for anyone who has diabetes, even before major symptoms begin to show up. By the time a foot or leg becomes swollen, it could be too late. By wearing compression socks early on, it’s much easier to prevent major issues.
2. Compression socks help alleviate lymphedema.
Many diabetics suffer from lymphedema, and compression socks are one of the best solutions to this condition. When lymph nodes are damaged, the lymph fluid tends to pool in areas like the legs and feet, which causes swelling. Sometimes it’s minor, but a lot of people experience severe lymphedema.
Since the lymphatic system has no internal pump, lymph fluid relies on bodily movement to flow. Compression socks gently squeeze the affected areas and encourage the lymph fluid to flow to another area where it can be drained properly. Sometimes all that’s needed is a pair of basic compression socks, but for more serious cases of lymphedema, people use layered bandaging systems. It’s important to talk to your doctor about your condition to make sure you’re using the right garments and the appropriate amount of compression.
3. When you’re overweight, compression socks alleviate pain.
Diabetics often struggle with being overweight, and that can mean having sore legs and feet. Compression socks can alleviate the pain of sore muscles while standing for long periods of time, or while wearing uncomfortable shoes.
4. Compression socks can prevent blood clots.
One of the best reasons to wear compression socks is to prevent blood clots. Diabetics are especially at risk for developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a condition where blood clots develop in veins deep inside the body. Diabetics are prone to abnormal coagulation, hemostatic, and fibrinolysis systems, which primes the body for DVT.
In this sense, compression socks do more for diabetics than just support blood circulation. They prevent blood clots in the form of DVT, which can lead to a dangerous and deadly pulmonary embolism. This is why diabetics often wear compression socks on long flights – the risk of developing blood clots to most people is extremely low, but when you have diabetes, it’s more likely.
The symptoms of DVT include:
- A swollen leg or vein
- Pain or tenderness in the leg that only shows up when standing or walking
- Warm skin in the swollen area
- Red or discolored skin
- Unexplained shortness of breath
- Deep breathing causes pain
- Coughing up blood
By properly managing diabetes, people can avoid developing DVT, and part of that management plan should include wearing compression socks regularly.
5. Compression socks are essential after surgery.
Some surgeries actually create a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis, like certain knee surgeries. While most people are instructed to wear compression garments after various surgeries, it’s even more important for diabetics.
6. Compression can prevent cellulitis.
Healthcare professionals often recommend wearing compression socks to reduce edema in order to prevent cellulitis. Many people with diabetes experience chronic cellulitis in their feet or legs, and having edema is a precursor to this issue.
Studies have shown that compression therapy reduces the recurrence of cellulitis more than other treatments. It won’t make the cellulitis go away completely, but being able to reduce the frequency makes it worth wearing compression socks daily.
If you have diabetes, make compression socks part of your routine.
Whether your wellness routine involves medication, exercise, stretching, or anything else, consider making compression socks part of your daily routine. The benefits are numerous. Compression socks support better circulation, alleviate aches and pains, and prevent dangerous blood clots. The best part is they look like regular socks, so nobody has to know they’re for diabetes. Give them a try – you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
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