A team of researchers has unveiled a novel shoe insole technology aimed at reducing the risk of diabetic foot ulcers, a serious complication that can result in hospitalization and even leg, foot or toe amputation.
Muthu BJ Wijesundara, principal research scientist at The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI), explained that the innovation targets a major cause of these ulcers: skin and soft tissue breakdown due to repetitive stress during walking.
Diabetes often damages the small blood vessels supplying nerves, leading to poor circulation and foot ulcers, affecting approximately one-third of individuals with the condition. Despite numerous attempts with shoe insoles to address this issue, their effectiveness in preventing ulcers has been limited, as per Wijesundara
In an article in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, Wijesundara and UTA colleagues Veysel Erel, Aida Nasirian and Yixin Gu, along with Larry Lavery of UT Southwestern Medical Center, described their innovative insole technology. After this successful pilot project, the next step for the research team will be refining the technology to make it more accessible for users with varying weights and shoe sizes.
In India as in the world, the burden of diabetes-related amputations is a serious issue. According to a study by the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers in India is estimated to be between 15-25 per cent among people with diabetes. Yet another study, ‘Lower limb amputation rehabilitation status in India: A review,’ by Dr Raktim Swarnakar, Dr Shiv Lal Yadav, Dr Darshana Surendran from Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, AIIMS, Delhi, talks about the psychological impact of amputation which is profound, leading to a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among amputees, ranging from 32%-84 per cent.
“Rates of depression vary from 10.4%-63.0%, while post-traumatic stress disorder rates range from 3.3%-56.3% compared to the general population’s rates of 10%-15%. Amputation can have adverse psychological effects, including a decrease in self-confidence, a sense of inadequacy, the development of a negative self-concept, and a distorted perception of body image, ultimately affecting the overall quality of life,” said the doctors. The study appeared in the World Journal of Clinical Cases.
Diabetic foot is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and amputations in patients with diabetes account for a significant portion of all amputations, with an average percentage of 68.6 per cent.. The age group most affected by amputations was the 20s and 30s, which represents the productive population of the country, as per the Indian study..
