Hearing the diagnosis that increased insulin sensitivity means you have type-2 diabetes can be a shock and trying to figure out what to do next can feel overwhelming. Most people know the basics: talk with a doctor about any medication they recommend to ameliorate the condition, start an approved diet and exercise plan to help maintain a healthy weight and so on. Yet many may not know that there are certain complications of the disease that require special care, specifically neuropathy and nerve damage. It’s why diabetic socks make sense for patients looking to minimize injury.
Alarming Statistics for Diabetics
Recent improvements in blood sugar control and other techniques used to help diabetes patients has decreased the likelihood of amputation of the lower limbs, yet one in 500 women and three times as many men will face the loss of a foot or leg each year. Those numbers grow as patients age.
Those rates are particularly concerning due to the increase in type-2 diabetes diagnoses in the United States. There are more than 25 million adults with type-1 or type-2 diabetes and the latter number is growing, in part because of problems with obesity. While a doctor with the Centers for Disease Control, Nilka Rios Burrows, noted that the numbers are dropping, “more work is needed.” One way to do that is with a comprehensive care plan that includes diabetic socks.
Government Recommendations for Diabetic Sock Use
The National Institutes of Health note that caring for one’s feet plays a critical role in limiting the ravages of diabetic neuropathy. While following these steps will not necessarily limit the extent of nerve damage nor reverse the process, it will limit the complications of sores and ulcers: Continue Reading Regular Socks Do Diabetics’ Feet a Real Disservice
