Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States, and its subsequent symptoms can make life difficult for those who struggle with it. Namely, diabetic neuropathy, or nerve pain, affects 50% of diabetic individuals and makes everyday activities unbearable at times.
Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that occurs when high blood sugar (diabetes) damages the nerves in the body. Peripheral neuropathy affects the legs and feet first, which is why many individuals experience numbness, pain, or swelling in the lower extremities.
However, Circufiber’s socks seek to address this problem by providing patent-pending infrared-emitting yarns specifically aimed at diabetic individuals.
Is diabetic nerve pain getting on your last nerve? In this review, we’ll discuss if Circufiber’s socks are worthwhile methods for alleviating one of the most frustrating byproducts of diabetes.
What is Circufiber?
Circufiber is an American company founded in 2019. The company uses proprietary, science-backed technology to create socks that are aimed at alleviating an array of foot and lower leg issues caused by poor circulation in individuals with diabetes.
The company offers a number of different styles and sizes of socks that are all backed by a scientific advisory board that oversees the use of technology to ensure a high-quality product.
- Science in Every Step – Our All-Day Diabetic crew socks feature Circulight Infrared (IR) technology which uses your body’s own heat and our proprietary blend of minerals to improve circulation in your feet and lower legs.
- Comfort in Every Step – Our unique non-binding and non-chafing cuff design prevents socks from slipping down. Our socks feature light support and cushioned padding that has been clinically shown to reduce pain, blisters, moisture, and pressures.
- Show-Safety Footbed – Our unique Show-Safety footbed helps to identify early indications of bleeding and oozing – even when wearing dark socks!
- Prioritizing Diabetic Health - Designed to reduce inflammation and enhance cell recovery while promoting an increase in circulation. Ideal for all situations including every day activities like walking, exercise, work and more.
- Homegrown – Made in USA. We make them here because we believe in American Craftsmanship. We know the makers, the knitters, the engineers, the dyers and finishers by name. We know their stories, their families and they know ours. We understand how much they care about their work because we share that same passion. Making products that help people isn’t just a job, it defines who we are.
The goal is to help people with diabetes adopt a more active and comfortable lifestyle so they can get back to the activities they love.
But diabetic socks are nothing new. So what makes these particular socks stand out? Circufiber’s socks use a patent-pending formula of minerals that are embedded into the yarns and, in combination with the body’s own heat, produce Circulight IR (infrared) light or energy that helps improve circulation in the feet and lower legs. Currently, the socks are undergoing a clinical trial at Yale University to assess their effectiveness on a research-based and scientific level. While the results are not yet published, the company is confident that it will prove their footwear is very helpful for those with diabetic foot issues.
Circufiber Socks: An Overview
Circufiber socks have loads of benefits for those with diabetic foot problems, but they also function as high-quality socks in general for anyone who struggles with foot pain.
Pros
Here are some of the advantages that make these socks stand out:
- The socks are extremely comfortable, even just for wearing around the house.
- They seemed to do a good job of alleviating discomfort when worn.
- The calf height socks are easy to put on and take off, which is beneficial for those with movement restrictions.
- They keep your feet cool and help prevent sweating, especially when compared to other compression socks on the market.
Cons
While we really loved these socks, for the most part, there are some drawbacks that you’ll want to know before you buy.
- They are expensive, but if the technology performs the way the company claims, what would anyone pay for pain free (or pain reduced) feet?!
- The model we sampled (the All-Day Diabetic Crew sock) is thick, and might create fit issues in people who don’t have much room in their shoes.
- At present, there’s not much variety in terms of colors and sizing — you essentially only have the option between crew socks and ankle socks in either white or black. At the time of writing this review, the Company was preparing to launch more models.
Now that you know some of the general thoughts, let’s dive in and touch on each of these points in-depth so you can get a better picture as to whether or not these socks are right for you.
Comfort and Quality
Perhaps the most prominent factor in regards to whether or not these socks are high quality is how comfortable they feel when worn. The good news is that Circufiber’s socks are some of the most comfortable socks we’ve ever tried.
We wore the All-Day Diabetic Crew socks in place of regular cotton socks for about a month’s time. We noticed a difference almost immediately when we put the socks on. They really feel like the technology penetrates into the tissue and nerves and alleviate some of the pain from inflammation.
In fact, they allowed us to lightly jog without feeling any discomfort, which would have not been possible with a pair of traditional cotton socks.
As far as how they stack up to other socks, we really didn’t notice too much of a difference as far as comfort. But what we did notice was that our feet didn’t sweat nearly as much in these, which is pretty rare for thick socks. Circufiber’s garments felt breezy and lightweight, which aided in the feeling of comfort.
- Science in Every Step – Our All-Day Diabetic crew socks feature Circulight Infrared (IR) technology which uses your body’s own heat and our proprietary blend of minerals to improve circulation in your feet and lower legs.
- Comfort in Every Step – Our unique non-binding and non-chafing cuff design prevents socks from slipping down. Our socks feature light support and cushioned padding that has been clinically shown to reduce pain, blisters, moisture, and pressures.
- Show-Safety Footbed – Our unique Show-Safety footbed helps to identify early indications of bleeding and oozing – even when wearing dark socks!
- Prioritizing Diabetic Health - Designed to reduce inflammation and enhance cell recovery while promoting an increase in circulation. Ideal for all situations including every day activities like walking, exercise, work and more.
- Homegrown – Made in USA. We make them here because we believe in American Craftsmanship. We know the makers, the knitters, the engineers, the dyers and finishers by name. We know their stories, their families and they know ours. We understand how much they care about their work because we share that same passion. Making products that help people isn’t just a job, it defines who we are.
Additionally, they were really easy to put on and take off. A common issue with compression socks is that they can become so tight that you really need to use some strength to pull them off and stick them on. We didn’t have any trouble with Circufiber’s as the company advertises its benefits without relying on compression.
With that said, these socks were a bit thicker than we would have liked. They probably made our feet go up an entire size when worn, which felt a bit strange when we put shoes on over them. While the added material and padding was honestly pretty nice, we could see how it would become uncomfortable for runners or people who are spending long hours on their feet throughout the day.
Style and Appearance
The socks feel great, but how do they look? The socks come in neutral colors, which is good in a sense because they work with any outfit. Especially when worn with jeans or pants, you really can’t tell that these are diabetic socks rather than just ordinary cotton or wool socks.
However, there aren’t many options as far as colors and styles. The company sells calf height, crew socks, ankle socks, and hiking socks. That’s a good variety for the purpose that these socks serve, but we wish there were more color options so we could mix and match a little bit more. The necessities are here, though, so if you’re only concerned about functionality, you’ll probably be more than pleased.
Something to note that we didn’t experience ourselves, but others have commented on, is that even if you decide to go with a black sock, any ooze or bloody discharge will still show up on the fabric in what the company calls a Show Safety footbed. This is great, as many people with diabetic foot problems typically need to wear light-colored socks so they can monitor these occurrences. It opens up more options, in a way, despite the fact that there’s limited variety on the website.
Cost
If you couldn’t tell yet, we were really pleased with these socks. However, there is a major drawback that acts as a huge barrier for many people: the cost.
These socks are expensive, and there’s really no way to deny it. A single pair of the crew socks is $19.99, and that doesn’t even include an extra $3 for shipping. While you can technically save by buying packs, a pack of nine socks will put you out $134. As the company says, “there are very few things that you wear more than your socks. And we offer a technology that reduces foot pain and helps alleviate many diabetic foot issues for around $0.50 per day. They’re not cheap because they’re not cheap. And the technology works.”
If you’re budget-conscious, these honestly are probably not the best fit for you.
What we will say is that if you’ve been struggling to find a pair of diabetic socks that get the job done, it might be worth the investment to give these a try.
Customer Service
The customer service team at Circufiber was friendly and helpful when we reached out via email for some general questions about their socks. They were responsive, clear, and even provided us with some external resources to learn more about diabetic neuropathy and other ways to find relief.
With that said, you can only contact them via email. There is no phone number on their site, which can be frustrating if you’re trying to get some immediate assistance. Not to mention, they are only available from 9 am to 4 pm EST Mondays through Fridays, which doesn’t give people on the West Coast a very large window of time to reach out for help.
Who is Circufiber for?
Circufiber socks are a perfect addition to your wardrobe if you have diabetic foot problems. They’re a great alternative to other socks because they offer the same level of comfort without the thick, hot, sweaty feeling that often accompanies.
But also, these socks aren’t just for people with diabetes. These are overall comfy pieces of footwear that might be able to provide extra support and cushion for anyone who works long hours on their feet or are just looking for a cozy pair of socks.
Their hiking socks might also be great for people who love the outdoors and hike often. They’re a little warmer and offer a bit more arch support as opposed to the traditional diabetic socks, making them perfect for long treks in the mountains or on your favorite trail.
With all of that in mind, these aren’t meant for shoppers on a budget. You might need to look at other options if you don’t really think the price is right.
Circufiber Socks: In Review
Circufiber socks are socks aimed at individuals with diabetic problems. Their lightweight design, paired with scientifically backed research, make for a sock that feels comfortable for daily use as well as during exercise.
These are breathable pieces of footwear that really do seem to help alleviate discomfort. While they are at a high price point, they may be worth it when compared to alternatives that don’t perform nearly as well.
All in all, Circufiber’s socks are high-quality socks that are more comfortable than the average pair and really seem to improve pain. While they are expensive and don’t come in many varieties, their breathable fabric and stylish design make for a sleek and discrete diabetic sock that you’ll never want to take off.
References and Sources:
Diabetic neuropathy – Symptoms and causes | The Mayo Clinic.
Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Owner, entrepreneur, and health enthusiast.
Chris is one of the Co-Founders of Diabetic.org. An entrepreneur at heart, Chris has been building and writing in consumer health for over 10 years. In addition to Diabetic.org, Chris and his Acme Health LLC Brand Team own and operate Pharmacists.org, Multivitamin.org, PregnancyResource.org, and the USA Rx Pharmacy Discount Card powered by Pharmacists.org.
Chris has a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation and is a proud member of the American Medical Writer’s Association (AMWA), the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP), the National Association of Science Writers (NASW), the Council of Science Editors, the Author’s Guild, and the Editorial Freelance Association (EFA).
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