Innovative research carried out at Hairmyres Hospital could help reduce the likelihood of diabetes sufferers developing foot ulcers requiring an amputation.
The study on shoe insoles, carried out at the Diabetes Centre of Hairmyres Hospital podiatry department and published in the British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease, is a world first.
Duncan Stang, who as well as working in the Diabetes Centre of Hairmyres Hospital is also National Diabetes Foot Coordinator for Scotland, said: “The research shows that simple gel filled insoles, developed in Denmark, can increase by five per cent the tissue oxygenation to the feet of people with diabetes and vascular insufficiency and reduce pressure to the front of the foot by 21.5 per cent.
“These are the two main contributory factors leading to a person with diabetes developing a foot ulcer which can result in an amputation.
“With the number of people with diabetes poised to double by 2025, foot ulcers are recognised as a global issue of major economic importance and any form of preventative treatment or management should be looked at very closely.”
Around one in six people with diabetes will suffer from foot ulceration in their lifetime and it is estimated that 80 per cent of amputations in people with diabetes are preceded by a foot ulcer.
Duncan said: “If we can reduce the incidence of foot ulceration, we will be able to lower the amputation rate and meet the targets set by the Scottish Government in the Diabetes Action Plan 2010.
“A lot of time and money has been spent over the years searching for ways of preventing the serious complication of a foot ulcer.
“This research shows that these insoles could be a simple and cost-effective way of achieving this.”
The research was carried out under controlled conditions in the Diabetes Centre of Hairmyres Hospital by Duncan, advanced specialist podiatrist; Donald Bain, vascular consultant; William Munro, orthotist; Derek Jones, bioengineer; and Tamim Siddiqui, vascular registrar.
All the results were analysed and collated by Raymond Hamill of the research and development department at Monklands Hospital.
An electronic copy of the report is available at:
http://dvd.sagepub.com/content/11/2/80.full.pdf+html