Physiotherapy Quarterly (ISSN 2544-4395) © Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences 2024, 32(1) original paper https://doi.org/10.5114/pq.2024.125293 Evaluation of the surface temperature distribution of the feet in patients with type 2 diabetes using the thermovision method Agnieszka Dębiec-Bąk 1 , Anna Skrzek 1 , Agnieszka Ptak 2 , Krzysztof Majerski 3 , Ivana Uiberlayová 3 , Małgorzata Stefańska 1 1 Department of Physiotherapy in Dysfunctions of Organs of Movement, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland 2 Department of Physiotherapy in Neurology and Paediatrics, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland 3 Státní Léčebné Lázně Janské Lázně, Janské Lázně, Czech Republic Correspondence address: Agnieszka Dębiec-Bąk, Department of Physiotherapy in Dysfunctions of Organs of Movement, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, Wroclaw, Poland, e-mail: agnieszka.debiec-bak@awf.wroc.pl, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7005-3018 Introduction. The diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is one of the most common complications of diabetes. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the distribution of superficial temperature and microcirculation in the feet of patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods. In the study participated 52 patients (the study group) diagnosed by a physician with type 2 diabetes, treated at “Centrum Medyczne” Provincial Specialist Healthcare Centre as part of the Diabetic Foot Syndrome Prevention Programme. The control group included 33 patients without diabetes. Superficial dorsal and plantar temperature of both feet was measured in all participants. The measurements were taken using ThermoVision FLIR SYSTEM T335. Results. In both study groups, the temperature of the dorsal side of the foot turned out to be higher than the temperature of the plantar side. The observed difference in the control group was clearly bigger than in the group of diabetic patients and amounted to 1,7°C and 1°C. In patients with diabetes the plantar temperature was higher by an average of 2,2°C and the dorsal temperature was higher by an average of 1,5°C as compared to the control group. Conclusions. Thermal imaging can be used as a supplement to DFS diagnostics. Recommending daily self-monitoring of surface temperature with thermography for diabetic patients can help reduce the risk of neurotrophic changes in the foot. Key words: diabetes, thermal imaging, microcirculation, diabetic foot Introduction The issue and incidence of diabetes are considered a global epidemic of the 21 st century. An inadequately treated, chronic pathologic process, caused by genetic and environmental factors, can lead to multiple complications, of which one of the most serious is the diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) [1, 2]. It is characterised by the presence of infection, ulceration or destruction of deep tissues of the foot, accompanied by neurological disorders. It deforms the passive motor system of the foot and causes various degrees of dysfunction of peripheral blood vessels in the lower extremities. The key factor which causes nerve damage, as well as exacerbation and acceleration of lower extremity atherosclerosis in patients with DFS is uncontrolled hyperglycaemia [3].