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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.