Diabetes affects about 1 in 4 Veterans who receive VA care. For these Veterans, late-detected diabetic foot ulcers could lead to limb amputation. But they can avoid this by taking one simple step — onto an electronic mat each morning.
Veterans who are enrolled in VA’s remote temperature monitoring program use a Podimetrics SmartMat at home as part of their podiatry care. They stand on the mat once daily for 20 seconds, and it measures the temperature at the bottom of their feet. The SmartMat can detect diabetic foot ulcers or other foot disorders as early as 5 weeks before they appear.
“It’s much easier to treat foot ulcers in the early stages,” said Dr. Michael Pulla, Chief of Podiatry at Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky. “A late-stage foot ulcer or infection can lead to a prolonged healing timeframe, possible hospitalization, increase in resources and result in surgery or amputation. If we can identify a possible ulcer early, we can sometimes prevent these complications.”
