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What is the latest way to prevent foot ulcers in diabetics?

Answer: With smart socks.

The Siren Diabetic Sock monitors heat in the feet of diabetics to predict the likelihood of an ulcer forming. Diabetics can have very low sensitivity in their feet, meaning they don’t notice when dangerous foot ulcers form. If left untreated, these ulcers can sometimes become infected and lead to amputations.

Thanks to an array of sensors woven into the fabric of the sock, called Neurofabric, Siren’s product monitors heat at six key locations throughout the foot. The sock can alert the wearer of an unusual spike in temperature via a Bluetooth connection to their smartphone. For wearers without smartphones, the Siren Hub device detects the warning signals from the socks and alerts Siren staff to call or email the wearer and recommend they have their foot seen by a doctor.

According to Siren’s website, the company was founded in 2015 “to empower people to avoid complications caused by chronic disease and aging” by developing “innovative wearable health technology that seamlessly integrates into the user’s everyday life.”

Kate is a senior copy editor in Northern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in professional writing from the University of California, Davis.