How to Reduce The Risk of Foot Ulcers in Diabetic Patients

Introduction

Diabetic foot ulcer is the most frequently encountered complication in patients with diabetes. In its severe form, diabetic foot ulcers can lead to amputation of the foot. 

Diabetic foot ulcers should be suspected when you notice 

• Fluid drainage in the socks
• Redness or swelling in the foot
• Foul odour in advanced foot ulcers 

This impact of diabetes has to be diagnosed early to prevent diabetic foot ulcers. Diagnosing the complications of blood flow, neuropathy etc using Vascular Dopplers, Biothezi foot vibration perception threshold detecting devices, and Hot cold perception devices is very important and timely treatment will be definitely helpful in reducing the risk of diabetic foot ulcers in diabetic patients.

Risk Factors and Diagnosis

Risk factors include high glycaemic content in the blood, peripheral neuropathy, and vascular complications. Besides a thorough physical examination and medical history, the use of equipment such as a foot pressure mapping system and foot scanners helps detect abnormalities in the pressure distribution and temperature of the feet. 

Foot Care Equipment

Kody Medical Electronics offers foot monitoring systems that help in the care of diabetic feet.

PODO i MAT 

The PODO i MAT is a plantar pressure mapping system used to measure and analyse the pressure distribution on the sole of the foot during walking or standing. The system provides valuable information to healthcare professionals to assess gait abnormalities, detect areas of high pressure that could lead to foot ulcers, and design interventions to optimize foot function.

The PODO i MAT system comprises a foot imprinter, a scanner, a pressure mapping system, and patient report software. It produces multicoloured high-resolution images of the plantar pressure distribution. This system can be utilized when evaluating the possible effect of specialized physiotherapy or surgery by measuring the pressure distributions before and after the treatment.

Footwork – Automatic Foot Scan

Footwork is an electronic pedometer from Kody Medical Electronics that analyses the foot anatomy and gives insights into your unique walking/running pattern, your weight balance, your foot biometrics, and much more. It has an active area of 40 cm x 40 cm and is lightweight, robust, and extremely durable. As the system uses capacitive sensors, it does not require any recalibration. 

Harris Mat

Harris mat is a foot scanning equipment that depicts high-pressure points and weight imbalance as darkened areas, which may be potential points of ulceration for a patient with diabetes. 

IR Thermometer

The IR thermometer from Kody Medical Electronics is an accurate and non-touch instrument ideal for comparative foot temperature measurements. It helps establish the risk of foot ulceration in patients with diabetes. It is a handheld instrument that operates in the temperature range of 10˚C to 40˚C (50˚F to 104˚F). 

Comparative temperature measurements between the two feet help identify any neural or vascular abnormalities and the risk of developing foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. 

Conclusion

The abovementioned instruments help in identifying the risk of developing foot ulcers. Early recognition of the symptoms, proper diagnosis, and a well-thought-out treatment plan will go a long way in improving the quality of life for patients with diabetes. Most importantly, the need for limb amputation can be eliminated.