By Subham Routray
Every year, over a million people with diabetes face the grim reality of lower limb amputations due to the poor management of diabetic foot complications. Foot ulcers, infections, and gangrene can deteriorate rapidly if left untreated, posing a significant threat to the overall health and well-being of individuals with diabetes. Recognizing the urgent need to reduce the global burden of diabetes-related amputations, scientists at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana have developed an ingenious technology called Diapetics – a telemedicine-based system that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with orthopaedic expertise to create personalised, AI-informed orthopaedic insoles.
Harnesses the power of telemedicine, enabling healthcare professionals to remotely diagnose, design, prescribe, and manufacture custom orthopaedic insoles. This revolutionary approach eliminates the need for in-person appointments, making orthopaedic care more accessible and convenient for diabetes patients, especially those with mobility constraints.
By employing AI algorithms, efficiently integrates and analyzes vast amounts of patient data. This includes medical histories, gait patterns, foot pressure distribution, and anatomical measurements. Through advanced machine learning techniques, the system identifies subtle patterns and correlations, leading to a comprehensive understanding of each patient's unique foot biomechanics.
Based on the analysis of gathered patient data, produces highly personalized orthopaedic insoles. These insoles are meticulously designed to address specific foot-related issues such as pressure points, improper weight distribution, and abnormal walking patterns. As a result, diabetes patients experience improved comfort, enhanced stability, and decreased risk of developing foot ulcers or other complications.
Streamlines the manufacturing process of orthopaedic insoles through automation. Once the design is finalized, the system seamlessly transmits the specifications to a specialized manufacturing unit. This reduces human error during production and ensures consistent quality across all orthopaedic insoles. Diabetes patients can have the confidence that their prescribed insoles are crafted with precision and expertise.
By providing personalised orthopaedic insoles, effectively redistributes pressure on the feet, alleviating stress on vulnerable areas. This minimizes the occurrence of foot ulcers and infections, which are common complications in diabetes patients. Through rigorous data analysis and design optimization, helps prevent potentially devastating foot-related complications.
The tailored design of orthopaedic insoles not only prevents ulcers and infections but also enhances mobility and overall quality of life for diabetes patients. By addressing gait abnormalities and discomfort, offers a heightened sense of stability and support. This allows individuals with diabetes to engage in more activities without the fear of foot-related setbacks.
Diabetes management can be financially burdensome, especially when it involves frequent clinic visits and expensive treatments. Offers a cost-effective alternative by reducing the need for repetitive consultations and custom orthopaedic prescriptions. With this telemedicine-based system, diabetes patients can access the benefits of personalised orthopaedic insoles without exceeding their budgetary constraints.
The advent of Diapetics represents a significant advancement in the field of orthopaedic care for diabetes patients. By integrating AI and telemedicine, this innovative technology provides a practical and accessible solution to the global burden of diabetes-related amputations. The personalised orthopaedic insoles created by Diapetics offer preventative measures, improved mobility, and cost-effectiveness, ultimately enhancing the lives of individuals with diabetes. With Diapetics, a future where foot-related complications no longer result in unnecessary amputations is within reach.