About
A desire to improve diabetic foot care
The Solsius project was born out of a clear ambition: to improve the quality of life and life expectancy of diabetic patients by preventing the risk of foot ulcers. Currently, diabetic feet are classified according to several risk categories, ranging from grade 0 (very low risk) to grade 3 (high risk). This classification determines the care protocol and the frequency of preventive screening, which can vary from one annual visit to a maximum of six per year.
However, the detection of ulcers relies solely on these consultations, which often occur at an advanced stage of the wound.
Due to neuropathy, diabetic patients gradually lose sensation in their feet, reducing their ability to detect injuries and increasing the risk of infection and ulceration. As a result, 40% of diabetic foot ulcers are discovered by chance.
A Public Health Issue
In Europe, 6 million patients are classified as podiatric grade 2 or 3.
Each year :
- 1.2 million patients develop a diabetic foot ulcer.
- 250,000 undergo an amputation.
Even with appropriate care, 77% of ulcers take more than a year to heal.
The cost of management is considerable: €28 billion per year in Europe, including €700 million in France. Yet, the majority of these ulcers could be prevented through an innovative technology: remote monitoring of diabetic foot temperature.
The creation of Solsius
With this in mind, Charles Perrard, CEO of Sparkling Partners, and Rodolphe Renault joined forces to develop an innovative solution. They pooled their resources:
- The expertise of Sparkling Partners, a pioneer in cardiac telemonitoring with the launch of Newcard (a solution integrated into common law since July 2023).
- The experience of Rodolphe Renault, an IoT expert for over 20 years.
Their priority was to consult with numerous healthcare professionals specializing in diabetic foot care and to initiate exploratory work to assess the technical and clinical feasibility of the project.
Clinical research was conducted in collaboration with the French Diabetes Society and under the leadership of Dr. Nicolas Reymond, a leading podiatrist. This work brought together more than 50 scientific articles demonstrating the benefits of Remote Temperature Monitoring (RTM) in the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers, summarized in the meta-analysis “Remote Temperature Monitoring of the Diabetic Foot: From Research to Practice.”
This research, combined with studies conducted with recognized specialists (including Prof. Ariane Sultan – Montpellier University Hospital), has highlighted the effectiveness of a telemedicine solution for monitoring the temperature of diabetic feet. Based on clinical evidence, this technology is recommended but still underused, even though it could revolutionize the management of diabetic feet.
Building on these results and after several months of consultation with stakeholders in the medical profession, the startup Solsius was created in October 2023.
The origin and consequences of diabetic foot ulcers
Diabetic foot ulcers mainly result from peripheral neuropathies and impaired blood circulation (peripheral arterial disease). The loss of sensation in diabetic patients prevents them from detecting injuries, which significantly increases the risk of infection and ulceration. This is a major problem, as the consequences can be extremely serious: diabetes remains the leading cause of amputation.
Nearly 25% of people with diabetes will be affected by foot problems at some point in their lives. Their onset must be monitored with the utmost vigilance, as they often go unnoticed and develop silently. It is therefore very important to react as quickly as possible. Studies have shown that changes in temperature almost always precede the visual appearance of ulcers.
A significant temperature difference between the right and left feet is an early indicator of disturbances in thermal regulation, signaling an increased risk of ulceration. Studies have shown that temperature monitoring can enable early detection of areas at risk, allowing for rapid intervention to prevent ulcer formation.
By identifying thermal changes early, it becomes possible to take a proactive approach to risk factors, such as excessive pressure on specific areas of the foot. By intervening before ulcers develop, it becomes possible to prevent serious complications, including severe infections and amputations.
Although monitoring the temperature of diabetic feet is not yet included in the HAS recommendations, it has been added to the recommendations of the IWGDF (International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot) since 2023.
According to these new recommendations:
It is recommended that people with diabetes who are at moderate to high risk of foot ulceration (risk 2-3 according to the IWGDF) monitor the temperature of their feet daily.
This measure allows for early detection of inflammation and prevents the onset of a first plantar ulcer or recurrence.
If a temperature difference of more than 2.2°C (4.0°F) is observed between corresponding areas of the left and right feet on two consecutive days, the patient is advised to limit their walking activity and consult a qualified healthcare professional promptly for a thorough evaluation and appropriate treatment.