Innovative diabetic insole: customised design for enhanced comfort and functionality

糖尿病是一个快速增长的公共卫生问题；据估计，2021年有5.37亿人患有糖尿病，预计到2045年，这一数字将增加到7.83亿。糖尿病足溃疡(DFU)是糖尿病的主要和常见并发症，可导致长时间住院。DFU是一个普遍和严重的全球卫生问题，需要大量使用卫生资源，包括工作人员和治疗费用。2010/2011年，英国治疗DFU和截肢的成本约为10亿GB，估计到2035/2036年，这一数字将上升到20亿GB以上。临床证据表明，预防性护理和改善糖尿病足护理服务可以直接影响患者的预后，并降低相关成本，因为它们可以提高溃疡的愈合和存活率，减少截肢和长时间等待足部护理。使用合适的鞋垫可以减少足底压力，从而减少溃疡的发生，提高生活质量。DFU鞋垫的主要设计挑战之一是需要定制。该项目旨在开发一种创新的个性化鞋垫，可以通过有效的脚底压力重新分配来提高舒适性和功能性。这项新技术可以改善患者的预后，降低医疗成本，并加强对糖尿病相关足部溃疡的管理。ISCF健康老龄化第二轮后续基金2023是健康老龄化催化剂奖计划的一部分，由UKRI健康老龄化挑战赛资助，并与美国国家医学院(NAM)的健康长寿全球大挑战赛合作。在锌公司的支持计划下，后续资金将用于在之前的健康老龄化催化剂奖资金的基础上，将研究商业化，为有溃疡发展风险的人开发针对患者的鞋垫。

Diabetes is a fast-growing public health issue; it is estimated that 537 million individuals had diabetes in 2021, and projected that this number will increase to 783 million by 2045. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are known as major and common complications of diabetes, which can lead to a prolonged hospital stay. DFUs are a prevalent and serious global health issue that requires significant use of health resources, including staff and treatment costs. The cost of treating DFUs and amputation in the UK was around £1bn in 2010/2011, and estimates indicate this figure will rise to over £2bn by 2035/2036. Clinical evidence suggests that preventative care and improving diabetic foot care services can directly affect patient outcomes and reduce associated costs as they increase the ulcer's healing and survival rate, reduce amputations and long waits for foot care. Using appropriate insoles can reduce plantar pressure, leading to reduced occurrence of ulcers and improved quality of life. One of the main design challenges for DFU insoles is the need for customisation. This project aims to develop an innovative personalised insole which can enhance comfort and functionality through an effective foot plantar pressure redistribution. This new technology can improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the management of diabetes-related foot ulcers.The ISCF Healthy Ageing Round two Follow on Fund 2023 is part of the Healthy Ageing Catalyst Award programme, funded by the UKRI Healthy Ageing Challenge and in collaboration with the US National Academy of Medicine's (NAM) Healthy Longevity Global Grand Challenge. With Zinc's programme of support, the Follow on Funding will be used to build upon previous Healthy Ageing Catalyst Award funding, with the aim of commercialising research in the development of patient-specific insole for people who are at risk of ulcer development.