A Thermally Regulated Footwear & Alerting System

Abstract

Diabetes can impair the circulation of blood in an individual suffering from said illness. Neuropathy, another medical complication of diabetes, inhibits the ability of a patient to sense pain and temperature changes, most often in their hands and feet. These medical complications together can be dangerous as an individual suffering from diabetes may be unable to detect a harmful change in the blood circulation of their feet. Undetected changes may lead to other medical issues such as calluses and foot ulcers. This study developed a prototype device for the insole of an individual's footwear that is capable of monitoring signs which gauge the health of a users feet. Based on the measured temperature of a users feet, a system issued alerts to indicate poor foot health. The insole system included a microcontroller, temperature and humidity sensors, a Bluetooth transceiver and an electrical heating pad. The Bluetooth module communicated with a smartphone application for event recording, alerts and communication with the user and other stakeholders. The prototype developed showed promise. However, further development and testing will be necessary toward deployment.