Diabetic Feet Need Special Treatment
Doctors Create Insoles To Protect Feet
For diabetics, foot care is essential. That's because the disease can cause a loss of sensation in the feet.
But doctors can now create special insoles to help protect the feet of diabetics.
More than 15 million Americans are living with diabetes. Not only are these people at risk of low blood sugar; they are also at risk of foot injuries because of lack of sensation in the feet. But new technology is helping doctors protect the feet of diabetics.
Doctors at the Gait Lab at Texas Tech University study pressure points on the bottom the feet to target areas that may be susceptible to sensation loss.
Doctors use sensored insoles, cables, and a transmitter to map each step. Once the pressure points are identified, permanent insoles are custom made to protect those vulnerable areas.
Any one with diabetes should pay extra attention to their feet by examining them daily and treating all cuts and sores right away.
The Gait Lab is also used to help people with cerebral palsy and muscular skeletal problems such as arthritis.
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