Smart soles: innovative solution for diabetes patients
1.2 million Dutch people have diabetes. A quarter of them develop foot wounds. HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (HU) is working on an innovative solution: smart insoles that warn when something goes wrong in the shoe.
Traditional treatments for diabetic feet, such as nine months in a plaster cast, do work, but limit patients’ mobility. ‘Cycling, shopping or walking the dog becomes difficult as a result,’ said Rik Lafeber, lecturer-researcher at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. ‘That treatment is also very pricey and takes a long time. We hope to use our smart soles to prevent people from ending up in the plaster room more often. The soles constantly measure pressure and will immediately alert in case of problems,’ he explains. ‘This enables quick intervention and prevents further complications.’
Accessible and affordable
Existing devices for pressure measurement are expensive and inconvenient. The HU is developing an affordable, thin and wireless insole that fits easily into the shoe and transmits data to an app. This will allow patients to monitor their foot health in real time without having to carry around large devices.
Research and education
The project, carried out in cooperation with UMC Utrecht, PodoPrinter and the Diabetes Association Netherlands, also provides learning opportunities for students. ‘Our honours students want to further develop themselves and help people at the same time,’ says Lafeber. Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and technical business administration students gain experience with the latest sensor technology in healthcare in this project.
Future prospects
‘We are still developing, but I am confident we will find a solution that makes diabetes patients more mobile and independent,’ Lafeber said. The smart soles could also reduce healthcare costs by requiring fewer plaster treatments and improve quality of life for patients.
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