Home smart mat for foot temperature monitoring to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers
Official title: Home foot-temperature monitoring through smart mat technology to improve access, equity, and outcomes in high-risk patients with diabetes
Funded at VA Puget Sound Healthcare System · NIH-11264646 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smart mat you stand on at home for about 20 seconds will record foot temperatures to spot early warning signs for people with diabetes who have had prior foot ulcers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Puget Sound Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003540-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11264646 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with diabetes who have a history of foot ulcers or are otherwise at high risk for foot ulceration and can stand briefly on a home mat.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetes or without foot-ulcer risk, those with an active severe foot infection, or those unable to stand or without home power/connectivity may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would stand on a thin smart mat at home each day while it records temperature patterns across the soles of your feet. The system looks for persistent 'hot spots' that often appear days before an ulcer develops and flags concerning changes. When the mat detects a risk pattern, the study team and care providers can prompt actions like reducing activity or arranging a clinic visit to treat inflammation early. The project emphasizes reaching high-risk groups, including Black and rural patients, to make early detection easier and more equitable.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could detect inflammation earlier so ulcers are treated sooner, reducing repeat ulcers and amputations and improving access to timely care.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier randomized trials using handheld thermometers reduced ulcer risk but were hard to use, and preliminary work with hands-free mats shows high daily use though outcome evidence is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Littman, Alyson — VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Littman, Alyson
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.