Smart shoe insole and smartwatch curtail onset of diabetic foot ulcers

The emergence or recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers has been cut by over 70 per cent during clinical trials of a smart shoe insole coupled to smartwatch alerts.

One of the complications of diabetes is nerve damage, known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, with the resulting loss of sensation making it more difficult for individuals to feel when their foot is at risk of skin breakdown. Furthermore, foot ulcers can fail to heal and become infected over time, which can lead to some form of lower limb amputation.

Led by Neil Reeves, Professor of Musculoskeletal Biomechanics, the research team at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) - including research fellow Dr Caroline Abbott who ran the study - equipped trial participants with shoe inserts that use ultra-thin sensors to monitor the pressure on the underside of the foot and provide feedback via a wrist worn smartwatch.