Neuropad monitors nerve damage in diabetics

To help diabetics avoid the risk of complications due to complications, British scientists have developed a foot patch called Neuropad that can rely on sweat to monitor nerve damage in the feet.

This is a common complication in uncontrolled diabetic cases, which occurs when high blood sugar damages nerve fibers, causing symptoms such as leg pain and numbness. The danger is that if the numbness of the foot makes the patient feel no sense of small wounds, it can get infections and sores, increasing the risk of amputation. The Oxford University team said Neuropad was developed to eliminate testing procedures because patients can apply it at home.

Neuropad works on the damage of nerves, not only causing loss of sensation, but also affecting the sweat excretory system on the feet. The paste contains cobalt II chloride (CoCl ₂ ) salt which is blue in color, so when it comes in contact with water, it will react and turn pink. To test, patients only need to apply Neuropad under their feet for about ten minutes. If the product changes color, it means that the patient has no signs of diabetic complications. In contrast, the colorless patch is an early sign of diabetic nervous system disorder.

Neuropad stickers.(Photo: indar.com.ua)

The test was conducted on 3,000 patients, showing that the Neuropad produced 86% accurate results. Currently the product has been used by doctors in the UK for their patients.

Also in an effort to make life easier for diabetics, researchers from the US company ViaCyte Inc have developed a method to supplement high-tech insulin. It's a plastic bag containing embryonic stem cells, processed to be able to transform into insulin-producing cells, promising to help millions of patients get out of their daily insulin injections.

According to the Daily Mail, a 2-finger stem cell pocket is used to implant the patient's side or back. It is surrounded by a membrane that has many tiny holes to prevent the immune system's antibodies from penetrating but large enough for insulin molecules to secrete. After 2-3 months of implantation, stem cells will develop into insulin-producing cells similar to those produced by the pancreas. When a new cell starts producing insulin, it penetrates into the bloodstream to regulate blood sugar.

This type of bag has been tested on mice and a smaller version of the implant has been used on 1,000 mice with results that show it is as effective as regular insulin injections. According to the research team, human clinical trials will be conducted in the next 1-2 years, in the hope that it will help prolong patients' lives.