Assessing Foot Temperature in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy across Different Environments

Abstract

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) reduces sensation and temperature control in the feet, increasing the chances of ulcers and infection. This study examines how foot temperature changes in people with DPN when exposed to different environmental conditions. Using non-invasive temperature measurement, readings showed that individuals with DPN had less ability to adjust foot temperature compared to healthy subjects. These results suggest that surrounding temperature can affect foot readings and may hide early warning signs of complications. Considering environmental conditions during assessment may improve early detection and help prevent foot problems in people with DPN.

Introduction

The text investigates foot temperature variations in individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and the influence of environmental conditions on measurement accuracy. Diabetic neuropathy, affecting nearly 50% of people with diabetes, causes nerve damage that often leads to higher foot temperatures (32–35?°C) compared to non-neuropathic individuals (27–30?°C). Monitoring foot temperature is crucial for early detection of complications, but external factors like ambient temperature and physical activity can alter readings.

Literature review highlights that:

• Foot temperatures increase by ~0.8?°C for every 1?°C rise in air temperature, showing higher sensitivity to ambient conditions compared to hands.

• Thermal imaging and neural-network classifiers have been used to distinguish diabetic from non-diabetic foot temperature patterns.

• Patients with DPN consistently show higher foot temperatures than non-neuropathic individuals.

Database and methodology:

• Foot temperature data were collected from 30 participants aged 30–60 years during winter (24?°C) and summer (30–35?°C) using four DS18B20 sensors attached to a slipper.

• Subjects removed footwear and cleaned their feet to ensure accurate sensor contact.

• Participants rested for 10–15 minutes before measurement to stabilize foot temperature.

Results:

• In winter, foot temperatures accurately reflected diabetic neuropathy status.

• In summer, higher ambient temperatures caused foot temperatures to rise for all subjects, leading to potential misclassification (e.g., a non-neuropathic subject appeared neuropathic).

• Comparison of winter and summer data confirmed that ambient temperature significantly affects foot temperature readings, emphasizing the need for a controlled room temperature (e.g., 25?°C) to obtain reliable results.

Conclusion

This study shows that people with DPN cannot control their foot temperature well, especially when the outside temperature changes. Because of this, the temperature around them can affect the readings and may hide early signs of foot injury or infection. So, when checking foot temperature, it is important to consider the surrounding environment for correct results. Doing this can help identify problems sooner and may lower the chances of ulcers, infections, and other foot issues in people with DPN.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Monali D. Rathod, Ramesh R. Manza, Deepali D. Rathod, Gangadevi Bedke. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.