Dermal Thermometry and Self-Care of High Risk Diabetic Patients

April 6, 2015 updated by: US Department of Veterans Affairs
Foot ulcers remain the most common reason for hospital admission among veterans with diabetes. Healing and preventing these wounds should be a high priority for clinicians treating these high-risk patients. Previous work by the investigators has suggested that diabetic foot ulcers are preceded by inflammation, which can potentially be detected with a thermometer.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Background:

Foot ulcers remain the most common reason for hospital admission among veterans with diabetes. Healing and preventing these wounds should be a high priority for clinicians treating these high-risk patients. Previous work by the investigators has suggested that diabetic foot ulcers are preceded by inflammation, which can potentially be detected with a thermometer.

Objectives:

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the utility of a novel personal dermal thermometry system to empower patients and caregivers and thereby reduce the risk for lower extremity ulceration and amputation in veterans at high risk for these complications.

Methods:

In this randomized clinical trial, 384 patients are being enrolled and assigned to either standard of care (SC) or SC plus a personal dermal thermometer (DT) to evaluate and log their plantar skin temperatures. All patients are given access to a 24 hour "hot foot line" to call for immediate access to care if they identify a hot spot (DT group) or a site of concern on standard self-evaluation (SC). All patients are assigned a sophisticated computerized activity monitor, which allows investigators access to time and magnitude of activity, downloaded at regular patient visits.

Status:

Project work is complete

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

400

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Georgia
      • Tucson, Georgia, United States, 85723
        • Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson, AZ

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

vibration perception threshold needs to be greater than 25, palpable pulse, Over 18 years of age Has Diabetes and Neuropathy

Exclusion Criteria:

No ulcers. Unable to walk without assistance of wheelchair or crutches

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Other: Arm 1

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Reduce the risk for lower extremity ulceration and amputation in veterans at high risk for these complications.; Incidence of diabetic foot ulcers over 18 months. Incidence of foot infections over 18 months. Incidence of Charcot fractures.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Improve quality of life. Health Related Quality of Life (change over 18 months)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Brent Nixon, DPM MBA BA, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson, AZ

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

January 1, 2003

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 16, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 16, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

March 17, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 7, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 6, 2015

Last Verified

April 1, 2015

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Diabetes Mellitus

Clinical Trials on Device

3
Subscribe