Highlights
- •Mild compression may be effectively and safely used in diabetes patients with LE edema.
- •Mild-compression diabetic socks significantly decreased calf and ankle circumferences.
- •Lower extremity circulation well maintained throughout the study.
Abstract
Aims
Persons with diabetes frequently present with lower extremity (LE) edema; however,
compression therapy is generally avoided for fear of compromising arterial circulation
in a population with a high prevalence of peripheral arterial disease. This double
blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessed whether diabetic socks with mild
compression could reduce LE edema in patients with diabetes without negatively impacting
vascularity.
Methods
Eighty subjects with LE edema and diabetes were randomized to receive either mild-compression
knee high diabetic socks (18–25 mmHg) or non-compression knee high diabetic socks. Subjects were instructed to wear
the socks during all waking hours. Follow-up visits occurred weekly for four consecutive
weeks. Edema was quantified through midfoot, ankle, and calf circumferences and cutaneous
fluid measurements. Vascular status was tracked via ankle brachial index (ABI), toe
brachial index (TBI), and skin perfusion pressure (SPP).
Results
Seventy-seven subjects (39 controls and 38 mild-compression subjects) successfully
completed the study. No statistical differences between the two groups in terms of
age, body mass index, gender, and ethnicity.
Repeated measures analysis of variance and Sidak corrections for multiple comparisons
were used for data analyses. Subjects randomized to mild-compression diabetic socks
demonstrated significant decreases in calf and ankle circumferences at the end of
treatment as compared to baseline. LE circulation did not diminish throughout the
study with no significant decreases in ABI, TBI or SPP for either group.
Conclusions
Results of this RCT suggest that mild compression diabetic socks may be effectively
and safely used in patients with diabetes and LE edema.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 26, 2017
Accepted:
February 16,
2017
Received:
July 11,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
