A graphene sensing system can detect early signs of foot ulcers in diabetic patients.

FREMONT, CA: Diabetes can affect anyone from any walk of life, and the number of people affected increases exponentially these days. It is estimated that more than 422 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes. It is a severe condition resulting in increased blood sugar levels because of improper utilization of insulin, which catalyzes the absorption of sugar (glucose) by cells for energy. People with diabetes are highly susceptible to develop foot ulcers. In some serious cases, severe foot infections caused by diabetes require some part of the toe, foot, or lower leg to be amputated. To diagnose the onset of diabetes at an early stage, a cutting-edge technology has been developed.

A graphene sensing system has been designed to detect early signs of foot ulcers, enabling diabetic patients to access preventive healthcare. The smart insole using core graphene technology can be inserted into a sneaker or dress shoe to monitor the foot condition of the diabetes patient passively. The data can be collected from the patient and sent to a companion app that can be accessed by the user and shared with a healthcare provider to determine if intervention or treatment is needed. Smart insoles work in a way that they sense the skin’s temperature, pressure, and other foot health related data that can indirectly indicate the onset of an infection while alerting the patient as well as a healthcare provider.

As it reduces the complexity of the monitoring procedure, the patient can himself/herself easily self-monitor while minimizing the frequency of doctor visits. This smart insole can potentially reduce healthcare costs for diabetic foot amputations. Further, the graphene sensors are tested in comfortable and wearable traffic for other digital health applications like disease management, athletic performance, and more. When used in smart clothing, graphene technology can be used for preventive health. This technology will bring seamless preventative care to patients and save billions of dollars in healthcare costs.