High
blood sugar can cause damage to diabetics’ nerves and could eventually
lead to foot ulcers and, in some cases, amputation. Swedish researchers
have found that patient perception of vibrations delivered at varying
frequencies could become a better way to detect foot ulcers early.
The
study, presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the European
Association for the Study of Diabetes, used the CE marked VibroSense
Meter
from Malmö, Sweden-based VibroSense. The device is indicated for the
early detection of impaired vibration sensibility in the hands and
fingers that may be caused by neurological, vascular or musculoskeletal
injuries, according to the company. It has been
used to detect neuropathy in miners, as well as other industries where
vibration injury is common, such as construction and auto repair.
The
researchers, led by Dr. Eero Lindholm of Skånes University, tested the
sensory perception of 364 Type 1 diabetics with and without foot
ulcers and 137 healthy people. “The results are very promising and
could lead to improved early detection of diabetic foot ulcers,”
Lindholm said in a
statement. “We have found a strong correlation between foot ulcers and impaired tactile sensation at low vibration frequencies.”
Unlike
the current method, where a physician applies a tuning fork to the
patient’s foot, the VibroSense delivers vibrations at frequencies
ranging from 4 Hz to 500 Hz. The study will continue for another three
years, Rogers said. It will include more testing on healthy people to
establish a baseline for vibration sensitivity to better determine what
is not normal.
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