Foot Health in Diabetes
Foot Ulcer Prevention relies on appropriate methods to measure, monitor and respond to changes within the at-risk foot.
Dr Dan Parker and Professor Yeliz Prior are joint Salford leads of the NIHR Innovation for Intervention (i4i) funded LOMIS project (NIHR201315) – Load Monitoring and Intervention System to prevent diabetic foot ulceration. The LOMIS project is led by partners at the University of Southampton (Professor Liudi Jiang) and supported by Keele University (Professor Chris Nester) with Salford leading on the delivery of a clinical investigation of the novel medical device within the NHS. This project has developed the first in shoe pressure and shear monitoring system to monitor 3D forces during physical activity. This work is supported by a Clinical Advisory Group and a Public, Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) panel to ensure a comprehensive user-centred design and development. Follow LOMIS on Twitter for more updates.
Within the group multiple projects explore how changes to the plantar tissue may act as a precursor to ulceration. Dr Dan Parker has developed methods to understand the mechanical response of the plantar tissue under varied loading conditions such as pressure and shear and is working to develop an ultrasound imaging protocol for assessment of the diabetic foot. Dr Simba Tanyanyiwa is leading research on the detection of sub clinical neuropathy in practice, an early marker of ulceration risk. Dr Farina Hashmi and Jen Andrews have explored plantar skin properties in people who have diabetes.
Work on the prevention of diabetes related foot ulcers is underpinned by a long-standing partnership with North Manchester Diabetes Centre, a multidisciplinary team with research lead Professor Cuong Dang.
Team
Dr Farina Hashmi
Shehnaz Akhtar
Hayley Edginton