Diabetic Foot Ulcers Research Paper

Words: 434
Pages: 2

Do you know it may soon become possible to prevent foot ulcers in people with diabetes? The outcome of a new study evaluating a "smart" foot mat offers that hope. The foot mat is actually a foot-temperature monitoring system that analyzes changes in the foot that might suggest the development of diabetic foot ulcers...a common complication of diabetes.

The foot mat was made by Podimetrics and its already on sale in the U.S. It is easy to use because it is like having a bathroom scale. All adiabetic patient needs to do is step on it, wait for about 20 seconds, then await the feedback or result.

In order to find out if it really works, researchers tested a so-called smart mat designed to use variations in temperature at different points on
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Every day, they stepped on it and waited 20 seconds while it measured temperatures at different points on the soles of the feet, then the device wirelessly transmitted the temperature data to servers managed by Podimetrics. The data were saved and analyzed for variations in foot temperature that might signal developing ulcers. Read more at Reuters.
What is diabetic foot and how does it occur?

Diabetic foot ulcers occur commonly in persons with poorly controlled blood sugar levels. Uncontrolled diabetes damages nerve endings, leading to loss of sensations. In that state, the person cannot detect heat, cold or pain. Diabetes also impairs sweating and secretions that make the foot dry.

Furthermore, It impairs the body's defenses, making the person vulnerable to infections and slows healing by limiting blood flow. Ulcers easily occur when tight fitting shoes rub on numb skin, breaking it down. In some cases ulcers form and become infected before an individual realizes something is wrong. Sadly, doctors may have to cut off the toes or foot depending on severity of the complications.

So, having a warning system like this smart foot mat may save a limb...even lives