Diabetes Foot Thermometer

A foot thermometer may be able to save diabetics from amputations.

by Holly Ames/Medstar TV

Published: Thu, August 16, 2007 - 10:23 am CST Last Updated: Tue, August 21, 2007 - 12:55 pm CST

More than 20 million children and adults are living with diabetes. Over time, many diabetes lose feeling in their feet and develop major infections which can lead to
amputations. Now there's a new tool that's catching the problem before it becomes serious.
Bobby Hodge checks his blood glucose levels several times a day. He also has to stay on his toes about his feet. One major complication of Bobby's diabetes is nerve damage. He has little or no feeling in his toes and can't feel foot ulcers when they develop.

Bobby has ha all five toes on his right foot amputated and two removed on his left. To avoid more amputations, he now keeps a daily log of the temperature of his feet using a new diabetes foot thermometer called the Temptouch Dermal Thermometer. Spikes in skin temperatures signal foot ulcers.

Lawrence Lavery is a podiatrist. "So this is a very subtle finding well before people can see it or feel it themselves to identify that their foot's going to develop an ulcer."

Bobby knows to watch for ulcers if there's a four degree Fahrenheit difference from his opposite foot. He's optimistic his thermometer will help him avoid any more future health complications.

The foot thermometer costs about 150 dollars and is not covered by insurance. The maker of the thermometer is Xilas Medical Inc. The company website is www.xilas.com Doctor Lavery is also participating in a government study to research the growing epidemic of diabetic foot complications.

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