Sockwear Recommendations for People With Diabetes
- Carol B. Feldman, MSN, RN, CDE and
- Ellen D. Davis, MSN, RN, CDE
Case Presentation
A.B., a 55-year-old man who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 6 months ago, was a new patient in the foot clinic of the Durham VA Medical Center. At the time of his first visit, he was taking metformin, 500 mg twice a day, and maintained adequate blood glucose control. His most recent HbA1c was 6.5%.
The skin on his feet was intact, without redness, and its texture was smooth and soft. His nails were intact without signs of onychomycosis. The shape of his feet was normal, and monofilament testing confirmed that foot sensation was intact. He had easily palpable pedal pulses and no edema.
During routine discussion of foot-care precautions, he asked what kind of socks he should wear to prevent problems.
Discussion
Good foot care practices are important for people with diabetes. A large percentage of diabetic patients undergo nontraumatic amputation after diabetic neuropathy renders them unable to feel festering foot injuries. What’s more, within 3 years of a first amputation, up to half of these patients have a second either new same side or contralateral amputation. Within 5 years, as many as 80% have died.1,2
As care providers, we are responsible for the self-care practices our patients use every day. Pronounce-ments such as, “People with diabetes need to keep their feet dry” and “Moisture promotes fungal growth” are common, and it is widely assumed that the sock fabric our patients wear determines how moist or dry the skin on their feet will be.
There are three schools of thought regarding the best fabric for socks worn by people with diabetes. Some professionals recommend cotton/wool socks. Others recommend socks or stockings of acrylic or a synthetic blend. And still others advise their patients to wear comfortable, well-fitting socks without regard to the type of …
