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Our favorite picks for comfort, circulation, and gentle compression. Cashmere Socks
Foot problems are common among those with diabetes, but specialized socks can minimize irritation, promote circulation, and maximize comfort to help combat the painful side effects. Diabetic socks are designed primarily to protect the feet, says Bruce Pinker, DPM, of Progressive Foot Care. He suggests looking for socks made with a low-profile seam or even seamless toe, a moisture-wicking material, and a relatively loose-fitting design.
You can wear diabetic socks daily and throughout the day, whether you’re working, lounging around the house, working out, or engaging in physical activity. But finding your favorite diabetic socks can be a challenge since there are so many to choose from and so many features to consider when comparing similar pairs.
We researched dozens of diabetic socks, narrowing down our top picks based on their overall comfort, support, fit, and value. We also had a board-certified endocrinologist from our Medical Expert Board review the contents of this article for medical accuracy about diabetes and its effects on the feet.
Many people with diabetes can wear regular socks if their condition is well-controlled and they don’t have any complications, says Jordan R. Wagner, RN, certified diabetes educator and founder of TDM Education, LLC, but there are many features of diabetic socks that make them beneficial. If you experience poor circulation and neuropathy, the goal should be to keep your feet comfortable and protected.
You may find that you need to stock up on a few different varieties of diabetic socks to meet your day-to-day needs and activities. There are three main types to know about:
Made of a moisture-wicking fabric blend
May feel a bit flimsy
May shrink if put them in the dryer
The Pembrook Bamboo Viscose Diabetic Socks offer a dreamy blended construction and loose fit that can accommodate a variety of different body sizes. Made of a combination of soft bamboo and airy polyester/spandex, the socks are both easy on the feet for anyone with neuropathy or sensitivities and also effectively wick away moisture. The sole has extra padding to give you a buffer between your foot and your walking surface, and the heel and toe are both carefully woven to be seamless and non-irritating.
We also appreciate that these socks are unisex and available in two different sizes. Plus, they come in multipacks of 6 for less than $20 and are available in neutral colors as well as brights and pastels. With support, comfort, a loose fit, and a good price-per-pair value, we recommend these socks for anyone wanting to try a diabetic sock to see if it’s right for them.
If you have particularly small feet and are cautious about buying socks that are targeted to a general range of sizes, we recommend Doctor’s Choice Women’s Diabetic Crew Socks since they are designed to fit women’s shoe sizes 4 to 10. On the other hand, if you have particularly large feet, we recommend Doctor’s Choice Men’s Diabetic Socks, as they are designed to accommodate shoe sizes 9 to 13.
These socks are great for many people with diabetes, offering soft, cozy comfort and a loose, non-binding fit, but some people might find them a little too flimsy to be supportive, especially during work or any kind of physical activity.
Type: Crew | Material: 49% viscose bamboo, 49% polyester, 2% spandex | Additional Features: Wide calf
Made with soft, moisture-wicking yarn
Durable and stay in place
May not be enough compression for some
First, we want to note that any person with diabetes who is considering compression socks should talk to their provider. While most socks with mild compression are safe, not everyone can use them. But if you get the green light, we recommend Jobst SensiFoot Diabetic Compression Socks. They have just 8-15 mmHg of compression, which is enough to boost circulation without causing unwanted side effects.
According to Wagner, uncontrolled diabetes can hinder blood and lymph fluid circulation, which may lead to numerous complications; compression socks, he explains, help manage swelling by encouraging healthy circulation. The Jobst socks are knee-high, which increases their effectiveness at keeping the blood flowing through your legs and feet, and even though they focus a lot on compression, they’re still incredibly comfortable—they have seamless toes, a soft, acrylic lining, extra padding, and the perfect amount of stretch.
One final note: Wagner says compression socks are meant to be worn only temporarily, so make sure you don’t wear these or any other type of compression sock for more than 12 hours at a time.
If you are looking for socks that offer a light level of compression, we recommend the OrthoSleeve Non-Binding Wellness Care Socks. Thanks to their circulatory benefits, bamboo charcoal fibers, and cushy padding, these socks are particularly great for people with edema, neuropathy, and diabetes.
We appreciate that these compression socks cover a larger area than most diabetic socks, but we would love to see some other styles offered. If you tend to overheat or simply don’t want full coverage on your lower leg, you’ll have to keep looking around.
Type: Knee-high | Material: 80% acrylic, 17% nylon, 3% spandex | Additional Features: 8-15 mmHG compression
Stay in place without binding
Zoned construction for extra breathability
We recommend Doctor's Select Diabetic Socks for Men and Women for people with neuropathy because they’re made of super-soft materials and can carry you through most of your day’s activities. They have all the best features of a comfy diabetic sock—extra padding, seamless toes, and a stretchy band—but are also breathable, made of a temperature-regulating fabric blend in a tall, stay-in-place crew sock design. There’s no need to have separate pairs of socks to wear at home and to wear to work; these socks are compatible with all your activities, and will keep your feet dry and comfortable.
These socks have a somewhat tighter or more secure fit, which is good in some ways—no slouchy socks—but won’t work for everyone with diabetes. If you need a loose, stretchy fit, these socks may not provide it.
Type: Crew | Material: 97% polyester, 3% spandex | Additional Features: Extra wide cuff
May shrink if put them in the dryer
One of the reasons some people with diabetes avoid diabetic socks is because their style often screams “therapeutic” rather than, well, “stylish.” But Specialized Socks Diabetic Socks are fashionable enough to pass as any pair of dress socks, which means you can wear them to work and no one around you will be the wiser about how comfortable your feet and ankles are feeling.
With a variety of understated but attractive patterns, colors, and designs, these socks are business casual, but they don’t forget the diabetic-friendly features: They have extra wide cuffs, seamless toes, and a partial cotton construction so they are comfortable and breathable but also resist moisture and odors.
It’s hard to find diabetic socks that look dressy, so we like that these fill a much-needed gap, but the extra wide fit and inclusion of cotton in the construction means they’re not likely to stay in place all day or resist slouching over time.
Type: Crew | Material: 70% cotton, 20% lycra, 5% nylon, 5% elastane | Additional Features: Seamless toes
Perfect height for sports and physical activity
Many diabetic socks focus on loose-knit comfort, which is important—but not everyone with diabetes wants to lounge around in cozy socks all day. If you’re active, you need a diabetic sock that can move with you, like the Sugar Free Sox Active-Fit Cushioned Diabetic Ankle Socks. With an ankle-cut design that’s perfect for pairing with your running, walking, or cross-training sneakers, these socks are low enough to keep you cool but high enough not to slip down into the heel of your shoe as you move.
Of course, like all other good diabetic socks, the active-fit socks are also seamless and cushioned, with a smooth, stretchy cuff that stays in place by conforming to your leg, not by cutting off your circulation with a too-tight fit. Because they’re made for sports, they have a synthetic blend of polyester, nylon, and spandex that will help deter sweaty, swollen feet.
If you’re concerned about sweating as you exercise, we also recommend Dr. Scholl's Diabetes & Circulatory Socks because they focus on moisture and odor control as well as temperature regulation with their polyester/spandex blend to wick away moisture.
These socks try to accomplish several different things—breathability, comfort, stability for physical activity—and in doing so, they come up a little short when it comes to thickness and sizing. They’re a bit thin, and customers seem to have a tough time finding the right size for them.
Type: Ankle | Material: 86% polyester, 12% nylon, 2% spandex | Additional Features: Smooth lining, cushioned heel
To find the best diabetic socks, we spoke to a number of experts throughout the research process. These experts shared their insights on why diabetic socks are important, what to look for when shopping for them, how to compare similar products, and, in some cases, even shared their favorite brands or styles.
Ultimately, the color of the diabetic sock you choose is up to your personal preference, but if you don’t have a preference, white or light-colored socks are recommended, so it’s easier to see potential bleeding or irritation in comparison to black or darker-colored socks, especially if the socks have any seams.
A diabetes sock is simply designed to offer protection and provide extra comfort, while a compression sock reduces swelling by compressing the foot, ankle, and leg to promote better circulation. According to Wagner, a diabetic sock works well for someone trying to prevent or manage infections, cuts, or blisters, and compression socks may be better for someone trying to manage lymphedema or leg swelling. The doctors we spoke with discouraged wearing compression socks if you have diabetes.
Sarah Bradley has been a freelance writer since 2017, creating health commerce articles, product reviews, and shopping guides on everything from dry skin moisturizers and wart removers to menstrual cups and toothbrushes. She has written often about diabetes complications, and understands how important it is for people with diabetes to have access to safe, reliable, and well-vetted product recommendations.
Rother U, Grussler A, Griesbach C, Almasi-Sperling V, Lang W, Meyer A. Safety of medical compression stockings in patients with diabetes mellitus or peripheral arterial disease. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2020;8(1):e001316. doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2020-001316
By Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley has been writing parenting content since 2017, after her third son was born. Since then, she has expanded her expertise to write about pregnancy and postpartum, childhood ages and stages, and general health conditions, including commerce articles for health products. Because she has been homeschooling her sons for seven years, she is also frequently asked to share homeschooling tips, tricks, and advice for parenting sites.
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