An article in Diabetes Care says a daily check of foot temperature with an infrared skin thermometer can significantly reduce the recurrence of foot ulcers.

Elevated skin temperature is a sign of inflammation and tissue injury, but the signs may be too subtle to detect. The study of 173 diabetic patients between 18 and 80 years of age were assigned to one of three treatment groups for 15 months. Group one received standard therapy, consisting of a foot evaluation every 8 weeks, therapeutic insoles and footwear, and an education program. Group two received the same treatment, plus instructions to inspect the bottom of their feet with a mirror twice daily. Group three received the same treatment as the second, but also used a digital infrared thermometer daily and were told to notify the study nurse if the temperature at the same site differed by more than 4° Fahrenheit. About 30% of subjects in groups one and two developed a new foot ulcer, compared with only 8.5% in group three. Approximately 90% of groups one and two also had full-thickness ulcers by the time they noticed a problem.

Once patients identified a hot spot, they were told to modify their activity and stay off their feet until the temperature normalized. Researchers believe this is what reduced the ulcer rate. Impressive! A digital infrared thermometer costs approximately $150 and is powered by 9-V battery. A simple addition to regular foot maintenance could save you an arm and a leg, literally.