Balance Enhancement and Ulcer Prevention Programme (BEUP)

Description

Neuropathy affects 50% of people who have had diabetes for 20 years. The clinical signs include loss of feeling in the feet, lower limb muscle weakness and joint stiffness. These changes can alter the way people walk and cause a loss of information passed from the feet to the brain. Problems associated with such changes include increased risk of foot ulceration, reduced balance and increased incidence of falls within those affected by diabetic neuropathy. The BEUP programme lead by Dr Paton involves researchers from the rehabilitation research group, diabetologists, podiatrists, physiotherapists and people with diabetes, with specialist knowledge of diabetic foot ulcer management, foot pressure analysis, orthotic design, balance problems and walking disorders, to focus on the problems faced by people with diabetes and neuropathy.

Public involvement in research

The BEUP programme is committed to engaging with the public to inform the direction and design of the research undertaken. This is important to ensure the the work we do is relevent to the people it is intended to help. Public are invited to find out more about our research and how they might get involved by visiting our webpage;

https://collaborate.plymouth.ac.uk/sites/beup/Pages/default.aspx