ONE OF THE BIGGEST causes of concern for people living with diabetes is poor circulation to their extremities, particularly their legs and feet. Poor circulation can cause symptoms like cramping, tingling, or numbing sensations. It could also be pain, swelling, or other medical conditions like peripheral artery disease (PAD) or peripheral neuropathy.
If you or a loved one is experiencing poor circulation caused by diabetes, you need to know about compression socks for diabetics.
Compression socks help improve poor circulation in a way that is completely drug-free. These types of socks are woven with elastic fibers along the foot, ankle, and calf and reach up to just below the knee. Due to their elastic properties, compression socks are continuously applying a comfortable amount of pressure to the veins and arteries of the legs and feet, preventing blood from pooling or clotting due to poor circulation.
You can measure the amount of pressure applied by the socks in millimeters of Mercury marked as “mmHg”. Most medical compression socks range from a pressure of 20mmHg to 30 mmHg. This is effective but it’s also uncomfortable with daily use. Lasso’s Medical Compression socks have a pressure range of 15 mmHg to 25 mmHg, which also makes them effective at improving blood circulation, while making them comfortable enough for daily use.
How Diabetes Affects Blood Circulation
Diabetes is a disease that causes disruptions in how your body regulates blood sugar and produces insulin. There are three types of diabetes that are commonly recognized by the medical community: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 involves an autoimmune condition that usually presents in childhood. Individuals with Type 1 diabetes have faulty immunity responses that cause the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin to be attacked. Because of this, Type 1 diabetics are unable to create their own insulin to naturally regulate their blood sugar levels.
However, Type 2 diabetes usually develops later in life, which is why it is known as adult-onset diabetes. According to the CDC, Type 2 diabetes makes up 90% to 95% of 30 million Americans living with diabetes today. This type of diabetes is caused by an insufficient amount of insulin in the bloodstream due to diets high in sugar and insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth. It can be managed through a specialized diet plan, exercise, and sometimes insulin therapy.
Whichever type of diabetes an individual is presenting, the disease will have an impact on the body’s circulatory system. The lack of insulin in circulation also means a lack of key enzymes that are critical to breaking down fatty acids and nitric oxide in the bloodstream which can cause fat deposits and damage to the blood vessels. This can lead to blockages in the veins in the lower extremities, leaky vessels, swelling, pain, and ultimately amputation of the limbs if circulation issues are left untreated
How Compression Socks Improve Poor Circulation
Wearing compression socks provides many benefits for people living with medical conditions caused by poor circulation to the legs and feet. For those unfamiliar with compression therapy, compression socks are designed to help increase circulation providing support to the veins and arteries in your legs and feet. Blood circulation to your lower extremities is particularly difficult for diabetics and sedentary individuals because blood flow through the veins and arteries are aided by muscle contractions and gravity.
Wearing compression socks can greatly improve circulation problems for diabetics in a way that is safe and comfortable. Type 2 diabetes is a commonly occurring disease in the elderly population that has issues with circulation due to weakness, lack of activity, and access to exercise equipment. Introducing these individuals to compression therapy and compression socks for diabetics can help improve blood circulation to the legs and feet without the aid of exercise or medicines that can cause negative side effects.
The benefits of compression socks for diabetics can help relieve pain, swelling, numbness, and poor circulation in a way that is safe, comfortable, and drug-free. Take a look at Lasso’s men’s and women’s medical graduated compression socks on our website today.