Why is early screening for diabetic foot problems important?
Half of all people with diabetes may develop peripheral neuropathy, including peripheral autonomic neuropathy.
We often find that complications develop before treatment starts and this isn’t a good thing. Early identification of possible problems is a considerable advantage and treatment can be started early.
Think of the test as an early warning system for your feet. Screening for ‘at-risk’ feet is the job of all of those caring for people with diabetes.1
Preventing a foot ulcer from developing is preferable to treating one, or suffering the human and economic consequences of treatment failure.
What is neuropad® used for?
Nerve damage to the feet is a common complication of diabetes but is often not noticed until it has become quite advanced, potentially leading to serious complications.
neuropad® helps solve this problem with a simple colour change test and provides an early warning sign of possible more serious nerve damage which could lead to ulceration and even more serious problems if left untreated.
Screening with neuropad® at home or in a clinical setting
Here’s how it works
Damage to the nerves in the feet because of diabetes can result in the sweat glands not producing enough moisture, leading to dry and cracked feet. The medical term for this is SUDOMOTOR DYSFUNCTION .
A neuropad® is stuck to the sole of each foot like a sticking plaster and left in place for 10 minutes. The pad is blue to start with and should turn pink, in the presence of moisture from sweating, to indicate a normal result. If the neuropad® test patch stays blue, or if it turns a patchy blue/pink, then this indicates that you may have some level of nerve damage and that your sweat glands are not working properly as there is not enough moisture to complete the colour change.
Please click here to download usage instructions
Has it been clinically studied?
Yes. There have been more than 40 research papers published in international medical and scientific journals demonstrating that the neuropad® test is a valid indicator of early nerve damage to the feet and may predict future ulceration in the feet of people with diabetes. It’s like an early warning system and the earlier you know something may be wrong the better chance you have of doing something about it.
In clinical trials, the sensitivity and specificity of neuropad® was comparable to that of well-established hospital-based tests.
Precautions, warnings and product information
The neuropad® test is strictly for external use only. It should not be applied to any part of the body except to the sole of the foot. If the skin of the foot is badly cracked or if there are obvious fissures or open wounds or there are signs of local inflammation (red skin) do not apply the pad and contact a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
The pads must not come into contact with the eyes or any mucus membranes and must never be inhaled. Do not use if you are allergic to chrome, nickel or cobalt.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Product Composition
Substrate: transparent polyolefin film (medically modified).
Adhesive: hypoallergenic medical grade polyacrylate glue. Indicator pad: 100% viscose, binder reinforced, impregnated with CoCl2 solution. Legal classification: CE medical device Class I, Annex I + VII, Directive 93/42 EEC.
References
1. Boulton, JM. The Pathway to Foot Ulceration in Diabetes. In: The Diabetic Foot. Medical Clinics of North America. Volume 97, Issue 5, September 2013, Pages 775–790.