Reduced tactile sensitivity on feet of children with diabetes can be found using Multi Frequency Vibrometry
A master's thesis from the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University shows that examined children with type 1 diabetes have reduced tactile sensitivity in the feet compared to children who do not have diabetes. Preliminary data from the study shows that even children and adolescence may have impaired sensation, which may indicate early forms of so-called diabetic neuropathy
The discovery was made in an on-going study conducted in collaboration between the Pediatric clinic and the Department of Hand Surgery at Skåne University Hospital in Malmö -Sweden, together with VibroSense Dynamics AB.
The study is made by medicine student Erik Ising under supervision of Helena Elding Larsson, doctor of medicine at the Pediatric clinic and Lars Dahlin, Professor of Hand Surgery, at Lund University in Sweden.
The purpose of the thesis was to examine if children with Type-1 Diabetes show signs of reduced tactile sensitivity of the sole of the foot and of the hand.
The study shows that Multi-Frequency Vibrometry, a new method for diagnosis of impaired sensitivity, may disclose reduced tactile sensitivity in the feet in a very early stage. Moreover, current technology e.g. monofilament, exhibits a less sensitivity to detect sensory disturbances.
Fully developed nerve damage in the feet, i.e. peripheral neuropathy affects many adult patients with diabetes. This condition can lead to chronic wounds and therefore it is very important to detect early signs of impaired tactile sensitivity.
-We have many indications that it is possible to detect early signs of diabetic neuropathy based on assessment of Vibrotactile Perception Thresholds using Multi-Frequency Vibrometry, says Lars Dahlin, Professor of Hand Surgery at the faculty of medicine at Lund University in Sweden.
Multi-Frequency Vibrometry can be described as a hearing test of the skin where the patient's ability to perceive vibration stimuli on the skin is recorded at a number of frequencies. This method is far superior to current clinical methods such at Monofilament, Tuning fork or Biothesiometer, which are considered as methods with poor precision and accuracy.
The life time expectancy of neuropathy is 20 to 25% for all diabetes patients. This group accounts for 80% of the cost for diabetic wound care and amputations. The healthcare costs are extensive for diabetes related foot complication. In Germany, for example, these costs amount to EUR 4,3 billion, in the United States to EUR 27 billion.
Today, approximately 415 million people have diabetes; in the year 2040, the number of diabetes patients worldwide is expected to reach some 640 million people.
Contact information
Multi Frequency Vibrometry: Toni Speidel, CEO, VibroSense Dynamics AB, +46 40 650 14 12, info@vibrosense.com, http://www.vibrosense.com%20
Medical questions: Lars B. Dahlin, Professor of Hand Surgery, Lund University, Sweden. + 46 40 33 17 24, lars.dahlin@med.lu.se
About VibroSense Dynamics AB (public)
VibroSense Dynamics AB (public) develops and markets efficient systems for early detection and diagnosis of peripheral sensory neuropathy, i.e. disease of large nerve fibers and nerve trunks in the legs and arms.
The Company, founded in 2005, is listed on the Small Cap list AktieTorget since May 2015. The product portfolio includes a CE-marked medical device, the VibroSense Meter, for diagnostics of impaired sensitivity in the hands.