New UK research unveils breakthrough in tackling biggest toll on the health of diabetes patients

Thursday, 02 February 2012

At present every 30 seconds somebody in the world undergoes a lower limb amputation as a direct result of diabetes

A REVOLUTIONARY insole could hold one of the keys to unlocking a complex health problem that is the prime cause of amputation among the UK’s growing number of people with diabetes – and drains the NHS of £2m of taxpayers’ money every day.

The product has a unique design which was originally pioneered to soothe aching and tired feet of the majority of workforces, all of which are exposed to prolonged periods of standing or walking at work

But new research by doctors searching for an answer to one of the medical world’s biggest challenges has unearthed a more far-reaching use for the invention - that the gel-filled insole could be an all-important breakthrough in preventing foot ulcers among Britain’s near 4m people who suffer from diabetes, a figure rising with another UK sufferer being diagnosed every three minutes.

The research was carried out by seven of Scotland’s leading medical and academic experts and their results – recently published in The British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease – are now sparking worldwide interest in the insole, formally accredited as a Class 1 Medical Device.

A group of patients with diabetes aged between 40 and 77 took part in the clinical trial.  Tests showed that by wearing the insoles:

• Forefoot pressure – a major cause of ulcers – was immediately reduced by 21.5 per cent.
• After less than two weeks’ use, oxygen flow to the tissues of the feet had improved by a “clinically-significant” 5 per cent.

What is stirring interest among those involved in diabetes care is that this is the first time that an insole has been proved to enhance circulation. These findings have been demonstrated after only a short period of wear time – and the article states that the blood flow should improve still further if worn over a longer period of time.

Mr Duncan Stang, National Diabetes Foot Coordinator for Scotland, who is based at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, is co-author of the findings.

He said: “Around one in six people with diabetes will suffer from foot ulceration in their lifetime and it is estimated that 80% of amputations in people with diabetes are preceded by a foot ulcer. So if we can reduce the incidence of foot ulceration, we will be able to lower the amputation rate.”

“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.”

 “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.”

Hospitalisation of a patient with diabetes is more likely to occur as a result of foot disease than all the other complications of diabetes put together– with a resulting healthcare cost amounting to some 20 per cent of the £3.5 billion that the NHS spends on diabetes each year.

The globally patented insoles, known as Liqua Care, were developed by a Danish company specialising in the development of healthcare and lifestyle innovations.  The exclusive distributor of the insoles is Autonomed Ltd, whose managing director David Watt saw his late father suffer amputation of both legs as a result of poor circulation due to vascular disease.

He said: “This research is of far-reaching importance for a diabetes community which is growing at a rate of 100,000 people each year and also the increasing population with vascular disease. It could transform their care – saving taxpayers’ money, reducing the risk of ulcers and amputation and quite literally, potentially saving lives.”

“As well as the proven medical benefits, there is also the practical and cost advantage of the insoles’ design – their slimline profile allows them to be easily inserted into a patient’s non-prescription footwear with no need for modification.”

The insoles contain a precisely-measured non-toxic liquid that flows through a patented system with anatomically-designed channels controlling the direction of the liquid. This ensures directional stability while walking or standing-up, and matches the flow of the liquid to the structure of the foot.

The researchers are now exploring ways of building on their initial project by exploring ways of carrying out a larger trial a longer period of time to add further weight to their findings.

The insoles are available by calling 0870 041 0150 or by visiting www.autonomed.co.uk. They cost £27.75 a pair, inclusive of post and packing.

• Full details of the ground breaking research can be found here: http://dvd.sagepub.com/content/11/2/80.full.pdf+html