Turns out everyone's just been tolerating uncomfortable socks!
As far as I can tell, everyone’s socks are too tight! Fortunately, companies have started making loose socks for diabetics, and there are no rules about who can wear them. I get the king size for my person because at our house, there’s no such thing as a sock that’s too loose. Men’s gray, black, or white socks size 13-15 (not to be confused with shoe sizes which are somehow a separate thing 🙄).
Update: this page gets more hits than almost anything else on my website—so many people struggle with socks that are too tight!
Also, I discovered my dad’s socks were leaving marks on his ankles and the 13-15 size has been great for him too.
I wish I had more options to suggest (for the record, even amongst a handful of diabetic options, the Falari brand was the clear winner). I personally wear men’s ankle socks from Puma to solve the problem, but when I’ve tried to get additional pairs, the ankle band has sometimes been tighter than I’d like (specifically the “grey w/ black” version that also has unnecessary compression across the tops of my feet). But I’ll add a link in case there are some types that are looser than others:
(I’ve heard that homeless shelters are always in need of socks, so I don’t worry as much about trying out a lot of different ones in search of ones that fit me well, since I know they’ll get used.)
Wirecutter recommends these no-show socks, which might solve the problem (at least for ladies) from a different angle:
If you’ve come here on your quest, and eventually find a good solution, please come back to let me know and I’ll add your advice for those who come looking. Contact me