Many diabetics use medical support hose to promote proper blood circulation throughout their legs. Medical support hose can be used by both men and women and come in a wide variety of styles to suit all occasions. The most important benefit of medical support hose is that they help to promote healthy blood circulation throughout the day, which can help to ensure that the tissues, muscles, and ligaments in the legs and feet are properly nourished with good blood flow.
Here are a few things that you may need to know about medical support hose and how they may help you if you have diabetes:
Why medical support hose may be necessary
Many diabetics suffer from a condition called diabetic neuropathy. This is a condition that is characterized by poor blood flow and the loss of circulation in the extremities because of nerve damage that is a result of that poor blood flow. Diabetic neuropathy can cause diabetics to suffer from foot and leg injuries that can get infected if not treated. This is one of the primary reasons why diabetics sometimes have to have their feet or legs amputated. In order to help prevent diabetic neuropathy, diabetics can wear medical support hose to improve circulation in their legs.
Through the pressure that medical support hose apply to the legs, ankles, and feet, they can also help to prevent or reduce swelling.
How medical support hose work
Medical support hose look like stockings or dress socks, depending on the style that you select. The hose are made of gradient compression technology which, in a sense, squeezes your legs, ankles, and feet. This squeezing promotes blood flow in much the same way that manually squeezing you legs will promote blood flow. Medical support hose are generally designed to provide high pressure at the ankles, where fluid may tend to build up. Medium pressure is applied to the calf and light pressure is applied to the thighs. (Source: http://shop.imtypefree.com/Medical-Support-Hose-s/124.htm)
What to look for when buying medical support hose
There are many different types of medical support hose that you can choose from, depending on your personal preference and needs. Medical support hose are measured by the pressure they apply to the body, which is expressed in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). It may be important to speak with a physician before using medical support hose that have mmHg higher than 20, as these may be too tight.
Also, medical support hose come in a wide variety of sizes and lengths, including calf-length, thigh-length, and waist-length.
Medical support hose are beneficial for many diabetics who suffer from poor circulation, swelling, and diabetic neuropathy. Speak with your doctor for more information about how medical support hose may help you.
Sources:
http://shop.imtypefree.com/Medical-Support-Hose-s/124.htm
