Do Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Want Wearable Technology to Prevent Diabetic Foot Ulcers?

摘要

The lifetime risk of developing a foot ulcer in patients diag- nosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) is estimated to be 15%,' and the risk of recurrence is approximately 40% at one- year.” Because of the enormous psychological, physical and financial burden of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), a strong emphasis has been placed on the prevention of DFUs in high-risk individuals, including those with a past history of a DFU, peripheral neuropathy, or foot malformations (eg, Charcot deformity).* Conventional preventative measures include patient education on proper foot care, frequent sur- veillance by healthcare providers, and use of proper foot- wear.' Despite this emphasis on prevention, recent evidence suggests that nontraumatic lower extremity amputations, which result in permanent disability for patients with DFUs, are increasing after nearly two decades of decline.