NatraCure 5 Toe Gel Moisturizing Socks

I have really, REALLY problem feet and I've tried everything in an attempt to curb the super dry, thick, cracked skin that builds up and creates a serious health hazard. When my feet start cracking and bleeding, it is difficult to walk and being a diabetic, this is potentially a serious health threat. These moisturizing gel toe socks are the best remedy that I have found, and the 5 toe design address all the areas where other remedies have failed. When I was young, I used to use the old "vaseline and cotton socks" treatment, which is almost useless because the cotton soaks up the vaseline and leaves the feet dry. By morning, I felt as if nothing had been applied to my feet and the cracks and soreness was as bad as usual. There have been foot files, creams, lotions and even corn razors, but the issues with my feet have worsened every year, until at age 60 I have wondered if this might even be life threatening - and those of you with diabetes know what I mean - the threat of sores on the extremities that won't heal gives us the dread of infections, gangrene, and amputation. This shadow hangs over people with diabetes and so what is merely dry feet to some people becomes a fearful threat to the diabetic. Expensive pedicures can help a little bit, but when my feet are exposed to too much exfoliation, the outer layer of protective skin is gone and the delicate underlayer of skin is left exposed. This is relieving and pretty in the short term, but in the long run, this delicate skin dries out even faster, and the ultimate result is that the dryness goes deeper and deeper into the feet. At first it was only my heels that were effected, but eventually the dryness crept up to the sides of my feet and in the past few years I have been battling cracks and bleeding in my toes. I asked my primary care physician what I could do about this, and I don't think that she understood at all how serious the issue was. She suggested lotion, which was like putting out a forest fire with a water pistol. I went to a podiatrist who spent 5 minutes looking at my feet, wrote a prescription for an ineffective product, told me to get more pedicures and went on the the next patient. It was a waste of $150.00. Gel socks have been great but most of them have design flaws that make me wish more thought had been put into what dry, cracked feet really need. My first pair of gel socks were purchased on Amazon: http://amazon.com/gp/product/B001K1IYRO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage The above socks are great quality, but the gel is too thick and the material is too thick. During the night, the gel would close around my feet like shrink wrap and I would wake up in a strangling vise that gave my feet terrible cramps. I found myself ripping them off to relieve the pain. Too, TOO much! Another try was the gel heel socks: http://amazon.com/Oppo-Gel-Heel-Socks-6790/dp/B0028PY27C/ref=sr_1_7?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1437536448&sr=1-7&keywords=gel+heel+socks The gel heel socks fine for heels, but there is no protection for the toes, and the socks themselves are unstable enough that they move around in the night and I often wake up with the gel on top of my feet and my poor cracked heels are left unprotected, dry and painful. Then there are the gel toe socks: http://amazon.com/FootSmart-Gel-Lined-Compression-Separating-Socks/dp/B005CW2Y28/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437536648&sr=8-1&keywords=gel+toe+socks These are fine for mid-toes, but the heels are left out and the tips of the toes stay exposed. In my mind's eye, I always envisioned a soft bootie, with 5 toes - ENTIRELY COATED ON THE INSIDE WITH GEL. But I couldn't find it until now. I must admit that the price of these booties made me pause momentarily, but I was desperate for a real solution to a very serious problem. So I sprung for 3 pairs. The first night, I was able to sleep all night in these soft, stretchy socks that have a complete coating of gel in every single toe as well as the whole foot. The gel in these socks still has a tendency to "shrink wrap" my feet in the night, but because the gel coating is light, the socks are soft and stretchy and the separated toes keep the feet in an anatomically sound position, I don't wake up in excruciating pain. My feet feel a little bit hot at night, but the relief from dry, cracked, bleeding feet is worth this minor discomfort. The separated toes also anchor the booties in the correct position, so there is no shifting or falling off in the night. Each night, I put a heavy moisturizer in my feet - usually a Shea butter based cream. Then I put on the gel socks and sleep in them all night. From the very first morning, I have wakened with soft, smooth, moisturized feet, and each subsequent day the cracks, flakes and dryness had improved dramatically. In less than a week, I have managed to reverse a terrible problem and have even been able to wear some pretty sandals during the day. In conjunction with some mild exfoliation, I have found these gel booties to be a real lifesaver - and I do mean that literally. The protective outer layer of skin stays intact, soft and supple and my feet have stopped cracking and bleeding. What a relief! The Natra Cure 5-Toe Moisturizing Gel Socks have addressed every single problem and given me a cure for an issue that threatened my health in ways that people without diabetes probably don't understand. I really love these and they were worth every single cent I spent on them. And I intend to add several more pairs to my collection so that I always have a clean pair to wear to bed. Very highly recommended for anyone who suffers from dry feet, but especially for those who have a serious health threatening condition of cracked, bleeding feet! So Great!