Why You Should Wear Bamboo Socks if you Have Diabetes
There’s a whole new world of socks opening its arms wide out to you: bamboo socks! And if we decided to write a full article about bamboo socks here, it’s because they’re absolutely fantastic for diabetic foot.
As diabetics, we tend to have more foot problems than other people, so we need to take extra care of our sensitive feet. Diabetic shoes, but also socks specially designed for diabetes can really help tackle some of our daily foot discomfort and keep us away from most serious problems, such as foot ulcer in the worst cases.
Thanks to bamboo fibers’ natural properties, diabetic bamboo socks are of great help. We can only suggest you try them out, and here’s why!
Why are bamboo socks so great?
As you guessed it, bamboo socks are socks made from bamboo fibres. But be careful about fake advertising when buying bamboo socks as some companies call their socks “bamboo socks” but use chemically processed bamboo fibres. These have lost their natural properties and won’t be as efficient as real bamboo fibres socks. So it’s better you get bamboo socks that are made with non-chemically processed bamboo fibers.
Apart from being extremely soft and comfortable, bamboo fibers have remarkable natural properties when it comes to clothing, and especially to socks.
Bamboo socks are temperature-regulating
Bamboo fibers are thermo-regulating. That means bamboo socks will keep your feet warm in the winter and keep your feet cool in the summer. How is that even possible, you may ask?
Thermo-regulated fibres – used in what is called “all-weather clothing” – are able to respond to ambient temperature and maintain the microclimate equilibrium inside the sock. To be more technically correct, fabrics do not provide thermo-regulation themselves. Instead, thermo-regulating fabrics are able to not inhibit and support the thermo-regulation of the body itself. Thermo-regulating socks, such as bamboo socks, work because their fabric allows air to circulate around the feet and at the same time provide a cushion of insulation when the body needs protection from the outside temperature (be it from the heat or from the cold).
Bamboo fiber prevent moisture
Bamboo fiber is naturally moisture wicking. Thanks to their hollow structure, bamboo fibers have the capacity to absorb 4 times more water than cotton for example. Bamboo socks wick moisture away from the skin of your feet, and dry faster than regular socks. They’re able to keep your feet much dryer and for much longer than regular socks.
Bamboo socks are naturally anti-bacterial & eliminate odor!
Feet fungus and bacterial infections come from damp environment. Thanks to its temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking powers, bamboo socks keep your feet dry at all times, preventing excessive sweating and bacteria growth. Plus, bamboo fibers have natural anti-bacterial properties.
Favouring the elimination of sweat and bacteria, bamboo socks will remarkably eliminate bad feet smell (which mainly comes from the presence of bacteria!).
They're extremely soft and anti-blistering
High quality bamboo socks are known to be extremely soft and comfortable. The fabric is among the softest you can find on the sock market, much softer than any synthetic fabrics or even cotton. Bamboo fibers have a natural silky texture. Its ideal for sensitive skins, as it considerably reduces skin friction, rubbing and chafing, preventing blisters and irritations.
Bamboo fabric is hypoallergenic
If your skin is fabric-sensitive and your prone to skin irritations, allergies or reactions, you’re just gonna love bamboo socks. They’re hypoallergenic. For even less allergy risks, you can even get to choose among several organic bamboo socks for diabetes.
Bamboo socks for diabetes: do they really work?
Let’s be clear: we absolutely LOVE diabetic bamboo socks here! It’s not that they do miracles, of course, but they’re the ones that best address most common diabetes-related foot problems.
Bamboo socks are a great choice for diabetic feet
Thanks to the above-mentioned exceptional natural properties of bamboo fibers, bamboo socks are a great choice for people living with diabetes. They definitely help keep your feet dry and in an healthy environment, avoiding excessive moist and sweat, bacteria growth, and fungus. Their extremely soft fabric respect sensitive skins and participate in reducing skin friction to the maximum.
If we talk only “fabric” bamboo socks are the best socks for diabetes you can get.
But diabetic socks are not only about bamboo!
Indeed, diabetic socks are much more than about fabric only, and there are more features to look at when buying socks for diabetes. Diabetic socks have 4 main functions: improving blood flow to your feet, providing extra cushioning or padding, keeping your feet dry, and preventing fungal and bacterial infections.
The bamboo fabric perfectly does the job for the last 2 functions: keeping your feet dry and preventing fungal and bacterial infections. But its very important your socks also help improve blood flow and provide extra protection. Bamboo fabric is great for diabetic feet, but you do want your bamboo socks to be specially designed for diabetes to be sure you’re protecting your feet from the wide array of diabetes-related foot problems, especially if you suffer from diabetic neuropathy, swollen feet, or diabetic foot pain.
To help you choose the bamboo diabetic socks that will best suit your own feet, here’s our Diabetic Socks Features Table:
Now, to make things easier for you, we’ve tested and reviewed several bamboo diabetic socks from different companies. Here’s our selection of the best and most diabetes-friendly feature complete bamboo socks we’ve found on the market.
Best Bamboo Socks for Diabetic Feet
In order to make clothing, bamboo fibres have to be mixed with other fibres. You can’t find 100% bamboo fibres socks. But in order to benefit bamboo fibers’ properties to the maximum, we recommend you look for at least 70% of bamboo fibres in your diabetic socks’ composition. Here are the best bamboo socks for diabetes we’ve found in USA/Canada and in the UK:
Best Diabetic Bamboo Socks
sold in the USA/Canada
1. Orthofeet - Padded Sole Biosoft Comfort Diabetic Socks - Men & Women
Orthofeet is the #1 orthotic footwear company in the USA. They make great quality and medically approved diabetic footwear, including a wide catalog of diabetic shoes and amazing diabetic socks for men and women. These padded sole bamboo diabetic socks from Orthofeet are our reader’s favourite:
- Distinctive Feature: #1 orthotic footwear company in the USA!
- 70% bamboo fibers - 25% Cotton - 5% Polyester and Spandex
- Very loose knit construction and super stretchable tops for better blood circulation
- Seam-free unique inverse linking design for completely seam-free interior
- Padded sole and soft cushioning interior
- Best quality on the market - Free shipping - Free returns - 60-days wear test
2. Yomandamor - Mens Bamboo Diabetic Over The Calf Socks - Women Bamboo Diabetic Crew Socks
Yomandamor is the leading company for bamboo socks and diabetic bamboo socks. It offers wide choicess, from no-show diabetic bamboo socks to over-calf diabetic bamboo socks, winter thick ones and summer thin others. You can view their catalog on Amazon, but these 2 models are our favourite: Men’s bamboo over-calf diabetic socks, and Womens Bamboo Crew diabetic socks.
- Distinctive Feature: Leading Bamboo Socks company!
- 70% bamboo fibers - 30% Elastane
- Non-binding top for better blood circulation
- Seamless non-irritating toe and extra soft combination of materials
- Micro-mesh and breathing hole for enhanced breathability
- Best value for money - Free shipping - Free returns
- 88% 4-5 stars costumers reviews on Amazon
3. Silken Socks - Diabetic Bamboo Crew Socks - 4 Pack - Men & Women
These premium quality Silken Socks’ Diabetic Bamboo Crew Socks for men & women are the ones that contains the most bamboo fibers: 90%! They are extremely soft and you will benefit bamboo fibers’ natural properties to the maximum. Specially designed for people with diabetes, they offer the whole range of diabetes-friendly features you need diabetic socks to have. A little addition, for those who like it and believe it, they are naturally scented!
- Distinctive Feature: 90% of Bamboo Fibers!
- 90% Bamboo fibers - Polyamide 5% - Elastan 5%
- Non-binding top - Loose and relax calf area
- Seamless toe - Extremely soft and comfortable
- Reinforced heels & toes for longer lasting and better protection
- Great value for money - Free shipping
- 89% 4-5 stars costumers reviews on Amazon
4. Hugh Ugoli - Bamboo Ankle or Crew Loose Fit Socks for Diabetes - Men or Women
Hugh Ugoli is a sock specialised company that has designed bamboo socks for diabetes. They’re great quality, last long, and costumer reviews are quite eloquent. The plus from Hugh Ugoli is the wide choices of available colours. That allows us to step away from the forever black & white diabetic socks and put some sparkles in our feet’s life!
- Distinctive Feature: Large choice of sizes and colours!
- 80% Bamboo fibers - 13% Polyamide - 3% Elastan
- Non-binding top - Loose and relax ankle area - Extra wide socks
- Woven toe seam - Reinforced heels and toes
- Micromesh and breathing holes for even more breathability
- USA Design and European manufacturing
- Lots of sizes and colors available!
- Great value for money - Free shipping - Free return
- +80% 4-5 stars costumers reviews on Amazon
5. +MD - Non-Binding Bamboo Diabetic Ankle Socks - 6 Pack - Men & Women
+MD is a well established foot products company based in the USA. They offer great top quality choices of diabetic socks for men & women. These bamboo ankle socks for men are a very good choice. It’s probably the best price you can find for men’s diabetic bamboo socks at, and you still get quality.
- Distinctive Feature: Best price you can find!
- 84% Bamboo fibers - 13%Polyester - 2%Spandex - 1%Nylon.
- Non-binding cuff - Loose and relax calf area fit and stays up
- Seamless toe
- Micro-mesh knit for better ventilation
- Cushion sole and Reinforced heels & toes for better comfort & protection
- Best price per unit you can find - Free shipping
- 80% 4-5 stars costumers reviews on Amazon
Best Diabetic Bamboo Socks
sold in the UK
1. IOMI Footnurse - Unisex Extra Wide Bamboo Diabetic Socks - 3 Pack - Men & Women
IOMI Footnurse offers a large range of specialised healthcare socks that help manage symptoms affecting your legs and feet. Their diabetic socks catalog is pretty impressive! Featuring here their Unisex Extra Wide Bamboo Diabetic Socks. Even though they only have 43% bamboo, their fabric is extremely soft and the organic cotton they contain is premium quality. They’re the best bamboo socks for diabetes we’ve found in the UK. They’re the most sold, and have the best reviews of all. Our bet is you won’t be disappointed!
- Distinctive Feature: Premium luxury quality!
- 43% Bamboo fibers - 40% Organic cotton - 12% Polyester - 3% Polyamide - 2% Elastane
- Extra wide non binding leg leaving no nasty constriction rings and favouring blood flow
- Comfortable cushioned foot
- Smooth toe seam to avoid skin blisters and frictions
- Great premium fabric made with 43% bamboo fibre and 40% organic cotton
- Lots of colors and sizes available
- 90% 4-5 stars costumers reviews on Amazon
2. Yomandamor - Bamboo Diabetic Ankle Socks with Seamless Toe and Cushion Sole - Men or Women
- Distinctive Feature: Extra breathability and moisture management!
Yomandamor is the leading company in the field of bamboo socks. Their models specially designed for diabetes are among the best you can find. Here are our two favourites for men and for women. What we most love about them: their engineered knit-in mesh on top that provides extra breathability and moisture management. If you check their Amazon UK store, you can find other more length, colour, and thickness options.
- 80% Bamboo blend combed cotton - 20% Elastane
- Non-binding loose fitting that stays up - Large wide calf
- Extra cushioning through the sole - Reinforced heels and toes
- Knit-in mesh on top
- Seamless toe and extra soft interior
- Amazon Free delivery - Free returns
- 87% 4-5 stars costumers reviews on Amazon
3. +MD - Non-Binding Diabetic Crew Dress Bamboo Socks - 6 Pack - Men or Women
+MD is a USA-based medical company, but some of their products are sold on Amazon UK with free delivery and free returns options. That can only make us happy for you, because their bamboo diabetic socks are great! You can find them in crew and ankle length, for men or for women. With 71% bamboo fibers you feet will just love these socks’ extreme soft touch feel!
- Distinctive Feature: Extremely soft touch feel!
- 71% Bamboo fibers - 20% Nylon - 7% Polyester - 2% Spandex
- Soft stretch and extra wide top for no binding at all
- Smooth toe seam and extremely soft touch feel to avoid skin irritation
- Cushioned sole for better comfort and protection
- Free UK delivery - Different colours and sizes available
- 86% 4-5 stars costumers reviews on Amazon
4. Hugh Ugoli - Lightweight Bamboo Thin Diabetic Ankle Socks - Men or Women
Hugh Ugoli is a company specialised in socks fabrication. They offer large choices of premium quality socks for all kinds of feet and styles. Their regular (cotton) diabetic socks have always been among the most recommended socks for people with diabetes-related foot problems. Luck is they also offer bamboo diabetic socks, available in the UK at no extra delivery cost. What we most love about Hugh Ugoli’s diabetic socks: the large choice of sizes and colours! You can find for pretty much every taste.
- Distinctive Feature: Large choice of sizes and colours!
- 80% Bamboo fibers - 17% Polyamide - 3% Elastane
- Non-binding top, just like any other diabetic socks
- Seamless toe - No bulky toe seam - Reduce the risk of blisters and infections
- Reinforced heels and toes for superior resistance and durability
- Free UK delivery - Different colours and sizes available
- 82% 4-5 stars costumers reviews on Amazon
5. Bamboozle - 100% Organic Bamboo Diabetic Premium Socks - 5 Pack - Men & Women
If you’re looking for Organic Bamboo Socks for diabetes, don’t look further: these are the only ones we’ve found that are sold in the UK, and they’re great! Bamboozle 100% organic bamboo diabetic socks are unisex and available in different sizes and colors. They’re premium luxury quality, extra soft and, for what costumers reviews say, they last long.
- Distinctive Feature: The only Organic bamboo socks for diabetes we've found!
- 80% Organic Bamboo fibers - 15% Polyester - 5% Spandex
- Super stretchable cuff & light elasticity - Do not constrict your legs & stays higher up without leaving any marks and pressure
- Fully cushioned foot for enhanced comfort and durability
- Extremely soft premium quality fabric
- Anti-slippery
- No seamless toe: if you have a blistering skin, avoid!
- Free UK delivery - Free returns
- 81% 4-5 stars costumers reviews on Amazon
More to know about Bamboo Fiber Textiles
A bit of history about bamboo clothing
Historically, in the clothing industry, bamboo was only used for things like bustles and corsets. It’s only recently in the early 2000s that new technologies have allowed to use bamboo fibers for a wider range of textile items, among which socks. Bamboo textile is especially appreciated for socks and sports clothing, because bamboo fibers offer incomparable moisture wicking properties. To know more about the bamboo textile industry, here’s a very informative and pleasant article to read:
Bamboo fibers? Bamboo rayon? Bamboo viscose?
Not all fabrics made from bamboo are equal. Indeed, if you look into greater details at your bamboo diabetic socks’ composition, you’ll notice that some contain bamboo fibers, others bamboo viscose, and others bamboo rayon. What does that mean exactly and what impact does it have on your socks’ quality?
Premium quality bamboo textile is made from mechanically-produced bamboo fibers. It involves a very time-consuming and quite expensive process, but this is the only way bamboo textile actually benefits from bamboo fibers’ natural properties.
On the contrary, bamboo viscose, also called bamboo rayon, is a fiber made by dissolution of the bamboo’s cellulose. This process removes a lot of the natural properties of bamboo fibers, and the resulting textile is of a much lower quality.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, a textile can be called “bamboo” if it is made of bamboo fibers that have not been chemically processed into rayon: “Textiles can only be called bamboo if they are made directly from actual bamboo fiber. Textiles made from rayon (or viscose, which is the same thing) that was created using bamboo as a plant source may be labeled and advertised as “rayon (or viscose) made from bamboo.” “
Are Bamboo Socks Sustainable?
That’s a tricky question. And it has a tricky answer. Bamboo textile companies advertise mostly on the fact that their clothing products are eco-friendly.
It is partly true. Bamboo is a very fast and easy growing plant. Its production requires a much lesser quantity of water than cotton for example. The environmental impact of cultivating bamboo in itself, and the clothing produced from it, is therefore lesser than for other textile industries.
BUT. And there’s always a but. To be able to respond to the increasing demand in bamboo fabric, bamboo growing companies (mostly in India, China, Pakistan, and Indonesia) have been involved in excessive deforestation processes that are extremely detrimental to the environment.
Furthermore, workers of the bamboo viscose, or bamboo rayon, textile industry, when not well-protected, are facing health risk that are not to be underestimated. Bamboo viscose fabric factories expose their workers to Carbon Disulfide, a neurotoxin that can cause serious organ damages.
To be environmentally coherent, it’s thus better to buy textiles made from actual mechanically-produced bamboo fibers, and to avoid bamboo viscose. Before buying, you can also check on the products’ certification.
What other textiles are recommended for Diabetic Socks?
If bamboo socks for diabetes have not convinced you but you’re still looking for great diabetic socks, you can explore socks made from other fabrics. Because diabetic people have more sensitive feet and are more prone to develop serious foot conditions, it’s not recommended to buy cheap fabric socks for diabetes.
Fabric is very important for your feet’s health. You need it to be soft in order to avoid skin frictions and blistering that could lead to infections. You need it to be as much moisture-wicking as possible so that your feet stay in a dry and healthy environment, away from bacterial and fungal infections. And your feet would appreciate a breathable fabric too!
That’s why good-quality diabetic socks are usually made with more technical materials than regular socks. Cotton can work, but if you have foot problems, it’s not the most recommended as it is not moisture-wicking enough. Bamboo is great, but you can also have a look at some high-tech socks from synthetic materials such as nano-fabric socks for diabetes. Textiles from nano-technology are very interesting for diabetic socks: they’re water-resistant, eliminate moisture & odor, have a better elasticity and strength and they’re more resistant to bacterias.