Smart Shoes to Help Prevent Diabetic Foot Amputations

Professor Zoltan Pataky from University of Geneva, has received major funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) to conduct clinical testing on smart shoes designed to prevent foot ulcers in people with diabetes — a leading cause of lower limb amputation.

Each year, diabetes leads to an estimated 250,000 amputations in Europe, 85% of which are preventable, according to the WHO. “It often begins with a minor foot injury that goes unnoticed due to nerve damage caused by prolonged high blood sugar,” explains Prof. Pataky. “Without pain as a warning sign, these wounds can evolve into deep ulcers and severe infections, leaving amputation as the only option.”

While managing blood sugar is essential, reducing excessive plantar pressure is key to preventing foot ulcers. Existing tools like crutches, insoles, and custom footwear help, but recurrence remains high if pressure imbalances persist.

To tackle this, Prof. Pataky, Associate Professor at the University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine and Senior Consultant at HUG (Geneva University Hospitals) and his team — in collaboration with EPFL — have developed a prototype smart shoe that continuously monitors foot pressure and automatically adjusts the sole’s flexibility to offload high-risk areas in real time.

The SNSF grant will enable researchers to test the shoes in real-world conditions, analyzing how the adaptive sole influences gait mechanics, refining an AI-driven pressure management system, and assessing patient experience.

“By preventing foot ulcers and amputations, these smart shoes could significantly improve quality of life for people living with diabetes,” says Prof. Pataky.

➡️ Source: UNIGE
📸 © Prof.Zoltan Pataky