Diabetic socks and flea markets: why the connection?

Factual Questions
1

I just returned from a visit to the local flea market, and noticed that many, many merchants there sell diabetic socks. They’ll be selling diabetic socks even when they don’t sell regular socks. I also see loads of diabetic socks at extreme discount-type stores, and bargain barns (those rustic sell-a-little-bit-of-everything-really-cheap stores located in interconnected pole barns and metal buildings) way out in the boonies, again to the exclusion of regular socks.

So, what’s the deal with the abundance of diabetic socks and unconventional discount retail venues?

2

I’d say there’s an association between diabetes and age and between diabetes and lower socioeconomic status, both of which demographics tend to frequent flea markets and discount outlets. Are diabetic socks the same as compression hose? If so, I think they are used a lot by older folks for reasons other than just diabetes.