Role of Experimental Socks in the Care of the High Risk Diabetic Foot

Eighty-six high-risk patients (sixty-nine males, fourteen with Type 1 diabetes, and seventeen females), ranging in age from 34 to 85 years old participated. The participants were provided with three pairs of clinically-tested padded socks and extra depth shoes. Feet were examined three months and six months after the beginning of the study.

In the study population the results were as follows:

• Clinically-tested padded socks provided more comfort according to patients' subjective responses.
• Patient satisfaction as evaluated was good or very good in 85 percent of participants.
• Patient compliance was high, with 84 percent of participants indicating that they wore the sock products all or most of the time due to the comfort they provided.

Conclusion: Clinically-tested padded socks provide a high level of patient satisfaction and a high rate of patient compliance, and are an acceptable, relatively inexpensive method of protecting the high-risk insensitive diabetic foot.