Curastep (Great Britain) | Smart footwear that prevents diabetic ulcers

Diabetes is an illness that threatens people everywhere. In fact, every 20 seconds, a foot is amputated because of it. For the 830 million diabetic patients susceptible to nerve damage worldwide, the possibility of an unnoticed blister rapidly deteriorating into a severe ulcer is very real. There is no ability to feel when minor injuries have occurred on the bottom of the foot, and by the time the cut has developed into something much more serious, it is often too late. Additionally, the fear of developing an ulcer on one’s foot creates a paradox: exercise is critical for mitigating the effects of diabetes, but if a patient is deterred from exercise, they will then be exposed to the risk of their diabetes worsening. It is a serious issue that requires creative thought to address.

Raye and Sarah of the United Kingdom recognized the severity of diabetes and were inspired to create Curastep, smart footwear that revolutionizes sports medicine by detecting foot injuries before they even form. With it, patients with diabetes are able to more effectively mitigate the disease through exercise while simultaneously monitoring metrics related to the health of their feet. For their efforts, they were selected as Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors.

A Shoe That Measures Blood Circulation, And Looks Good

Raye knows what it is like to live as a diabetes patient in fear of permanent foot damage: her grandmother had diabetes. She had to undergo endless foot checks and, despite changing her shoes numerous times, still had injuries she couldn’t feel. This had a major effect on her, because she had been a badminton medalist. However, because of diabetes, she lost her confidence and was in constant feat of injuring her foot, so she quit playing. Knowing this, Raye wanted to develop a solution that would give diabetes patients the peace of mind and confidence to continue taking part in physical activities.

Along with Sarah, she designed Curastep, which uses built-in sensors to measure pressure distribution and blood flow. But the shoe itself is a total solution, coming with more than sensors to provide protection for diabetes patients. Its wide rubber sole is high friction and anti-slip, so wearers don’t have to worry as much about inadvertent falls. The sole is made with a silver nanowire fabric that is antimicrobial, breathable, and moisture-wicking, preventing sweat buildup and infection. It’s also electrically conductive, so the sensor circuits can continue to work all over the shoe. It also comes with extra foot protection features including waterproof Gore-Tex fabric that prevents short circuiting, triple-stitched leather for toe stubbing protection, and adjustable airbags inside the shoe that provide added comfort.

The challenge in developing Curastep was learning why diabetes patients were developing ulcers despite being outfitted with medically prescribed footwear. What the team learned after some investigation came as a bit of a surprise, it wasn’t a matter of footwear effectiveness, but of patient compliance. Patients were refusing to wear their medical footwear because it is often ugly, conspicuous, and at times restrictive to movement. So Curastep did not just need to be able to monitor blood circulation and other markers signaling diabetic ulcers, it needed to look enough like a regular shoe, too.

A Supportive, Nurturing Environment

At Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, Raye and Sarah learned to think outside of the box to refine their mission, develop their design thinking and pitching skills, and make their solution a reality. They were able to participate in an in-person prototype workshop, where they built the first physical Curastep prototype. The Raye and Sarah credit the experience as invaluable, as they were able to see through the entire process from 2D renderings to a physical item they could hold.

Overall, they felt that perhaps the best aspect of the program was the supportive and warm environment. Raye and Sarah were able to meet other passionate students like themselves and exchange creative concepts with them. Such an experience allowed them to develop lifelong friendships, in addition to recognizing that even the most basic ideas have the power to drive change in communities and create a better tomorrow.

A Two-Year Window for Further Refinement

Now, Raye and Sarah want to create a version of Curastep that they can bring to market. They aim to further figure out the mechanics, material sciences, software, and optimal design for comfort and durability, then they will run additional trials at care homes and with athletic groups in the UK. The goal is to have Curastep debut on their online store in two years, with a vision to expand the product further beyond that.

Raye and Sarah hold a firm belief that greatness cannot be achieved on one’s own. “Your greatest tool isn’t code or hardware, it’s the people around you,” they said. “So, listen deeply, collaborate openly, and lead with kindness. The right people won’t just help you build something; they’ll help you build something that truly matters.”

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors will be officially appointed at a ceremony held in Milan on Feb. 10-11, in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Find out more about Solve for Tomorrow at [link].