ENGINEERS and clinicians have teamed up to create an innovative device which could be a huge support to people living with diabetes.

The patent technology uses a smartphone and specially designed attachment to evaluate loss of sensation in the hands and feet.

Following work by teams at Bournemouth University and University Hospitals Dorset, the device is said to have multiple potential applications.

This includes assessing fall risk in care homes to monitoring the side effects of chemotherapy.

The team expect it will have the greatest impact in monitoring the damage to the feet of people living with diabetes, who can experience issues when their blood sugar levels are not kept at suitable levels.

One such complication is damage to the feet. Over time uncontrolled blood sugar can affect the function of nerves and blood vessels, and the ability to fight off infections. The loss of nerve function generally starts in the ‘peripheries’, like hands and feet which are both full of nerves and furthest away from the central nervous system.

Health bosses have recommended annual ‘screening’ the feet of people living with diabetes who may be at a higher risk of problems. This involves examining the feet, measuring the ‘pedal pulse’ and testing for reduced sensation.

The new NERVE device can collect the last two pieces of information and eventually it is hoped patients will be able to test themselves at home.

Researchers are now inviting people living with diabetes in the conurbation to trial the device.

The project has received £634,000 in funding from the National Institute of Health and Care Research.

Professor Tamas Hickish, chief investigator for the project, said: “If you have diabetes, you could help us test a new mobile phone app we have designed to detect damage to nerves in the feet that are linked to vulnerability to foot ulcers.

Professor Tamis Hickish (Image: University Hospitals Dorset)

“If this app is successful then it means it should be possible to improve monitoring for nerve damage and so hopefully reduce the chance of ulcer development.”

The study is being run by University Hospitals Dorset at the new Dorset Clinical Research Centre at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

The team would like to hear from anyone living with diabetes and over the age of 18.

Participants do not need to own a smartphone, and may or may not have had problems with their feet in the past.

To find out more and register interest in taking part visit uhd.nhs.uk/services/research-and-development/nerve