🦶💡 How AI Is Saving Feet (and Lives): The Rise of Smart Diabetic Care in India

✅ AI is transforming diabetic foot care in India through early detection and prevention.

✅ New centers like the AI-powered Diabetic Foot Care and Research Centre in Chikkaballapur are decentralizing healthcare.

✅ StrideGPT, a medical conversational AI, helps doctors and patients interpret foot health data easily.

✅ Self-offloading smart footwear adjusts pressure automatically to prevent ulcers and amputations.

✅ This movement is putting India on the map for AI-driven healthcare innovation.

• Who:

  Dr. Pavan Belehalli and his team at the Karnataka Institute of Endocrinology and Research (KIER), in collaboration with IISc Bengaluru and StrideAIde.

• What:

  Launch of India’s first AI-powered Diabetic Foot Care & Research Centre and Digital Podiatry Clinic (D-PoC).

• When:

  Officially launched on World Diabetes Day — November 14.

• Where:

  Government Nandi Medical College Hospital, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka.

• Why:

  Because diabetic foot complications — often unnoticed until too late — are causing tens of thousands of amputations every year in India. AI can change that.

Imagine walking through life not realizing a small cut on your foot could cost you your leg.

That’s the silent danger facing millions of diabetics in India. When blood sugar remains high for too long, it damages nerves and blood vessels — a condition called diabetic neuropathy. The result? You stop feeling pain. A shoe rub, a pebble, or even heat can go unnoticed, turning into ulcers, infections… and eventually, amputations.

India records over 100,000 diabetes-related leg amputations every year. Most are preventable. The problem isn’t just medical — it’s one of awareness, timing, and access to care.

Here’s where Karnataka’s medical innovators took a bold step — quite literally.

They developed StrideAIde and D-PoC (Digital Podiatry Clinic) — futuristic AI systems designed to catch problems before they start.

These platforms use advanced imaging, sensors, and machine learning algorithms to:

• Detect early nerve damage 🧠

• Classify risk levels for each patient

• Recommend personalized care pathways

• Generate automatic diagnostic reports for clinicians

In short: AI is now doing what used to take teams of specialists — faster, smarter, and at scale.

Think of StrideGPT as ChatGPT… for your feet 👣

It’s an intelligent conversational assistant that simplifies complex data into human-friendly insights. Doctors, patients, and paramedics can interact with it to understand:

• How risky a foot condition is

• What lifestyle steps can help

• When to seek immediate medical attention

Dr. Belehalli explains:

Yes, you read that right. Even your shoes are getting an AI makeover.

The team, in collaboration with IISc, launched self-offloading diabetic footwear — smart shoes that auto-adjust pressure distribution when you walk.

Here’s how it works:

• Sensors inside the shoe detect excessive pressure or friction.

• Internal arches reshape themselves in real-time to distribute weight evenly.

• This prevents blisters and ulcers before they ever form.

Recognized by BIRAC and awarded the Biotechnology Ignition Grant, this footwear could become a game changer — helping millions walk safely again.

The AI-Powered Diabetic Foot Care & Research Centre in Chikkaballapur isn’t just a lab — it’s a lifeline.

By integrating pedobarography, vascular assessments, and neuropathy analysis into one platform, doctors now get a 360° view of a patient’s foot health instantly.

More importantly, this system is designed to decentralize care — meaning specialized diabetic foot services can now reach district and taluk-level hospitals where resources are limited.

This isn’t about replacing doctors. It’s about empowering them with superhuman precision.

As Dr. Pavan puts it:

This initiative is more than a medical upgrade — it’s a vision of inclusive innovation, where technology saves lives quietly, one footstep at a time.

You don’t need to be a doctor or an AI engineer to make a difference. Here’s your quick playbook from this edition 👇

🩺 For Individuals:

• 🦶 Check your feet daily if you’re diabetic — small wounds matter.

• 🍎 Maintain healthy blood sugar levels through balanced diet and exercise.

• 👟 Wear protective, pressure-balanced footwear (yes, even at home).

• ⏰ Don’t delay medical consultation — early detection can save limbs.

🧠 For Healthcare Professionals:

• 💡 Explore integrating AI-powered screening tools into your practice.

• 🗂️ Participate in data sharing initiatives like the proposed diabetic foot register.

• 📚 Educate patients on foot hygiene, footwear, and self-monitoring.

💻 For Innovators & Policymakers:

• 🔍 Support AI-driven healthcare startups like StrideAIde.

• 🏥 Expand AI clinics into rural India.

• 📈 Fund data collection & predictive models for diabetic complications.

👣 The future of diabetic care isn’t in reaction — it’s in prediction.

With AI, we’re not just treating disease anymore. We’re outsmarting it.

At TAWAI, we believe the next generation of leaders must think beyond technology — toward transformation.

That’s why we’re launching the Young Global Leaders Lab (YGL Lab) — a hands-on program designed to empower young innovators, policymakers, and changemakers to harness AI for human impact.

The journey begins with three key pillars:

• 🧭 Awareness: Building a mindset that views AI not just as code, but as a catalyst for solving global challenges.

• 🧠 Application: Equipping participants with real-world skills through collaborative projects, mentorship, and global case studies.

• 🌐 Action: Turning insights into initiatives — from digital health to sustainability — where AI serves communities, not just industries.

The YGL Lab marks the start of a new movement — one where AI meets empathy, and the leaders of tomorrow learn to shape a smarter, fairer, and more inclusive world.

🧠 1. StrideAIde

Purpose: AI-powered diabetic foot screening and classification

Developed by: Dr. Pavan Belehalli’s team (KIER) in collaboration with IISc Bengaluru

What it does:

• Integrates diagnostic tools like pedobarography, vascular, and neuropathy assessments into one unified platform.

• Uses proprietary AI algorithms to classify foot risk levels and generate early detection alerts.

• Helps reduce amputation rates through predictive analytics.

💡 Think of it as a complete “AI lab in a box” for diabetic foot detection.

💬 2. StrideGPT

Purpose: Conversational AI assistant for diabetic foot care

What it does:

• Acts as an intelligent chatbot for doctors, patients, and paramedical staff.

• Simplifies interpretation of complex podiatric data.

• Provides actionable insights, patient education, and personalized care recommendations.

🗣️ It’s like ChatGPT — but with a medical degree in diabetic foot care.

👟 3. SmartStep AI (Conceptual / Research-Stage Tool)

Purpose: Gait and pressure monitoring using AI-enabled footwear

What it does:

• Uses embedded pressure sensors and accelerometers to analyze walking patterns.

• Detects abnormal gait or excessive friction zones.

• Alerts users via a mobile app before an ulcer forms.

👣 The shoe that literally “feels” for you — and prevents problems before you feel them.

🧬 4. FootSense by FeetMe (France)

Purpose: AI-based wearable insoles for continuous gait analysis

What it does:

• Employs machine learning algorithms to track pressure distribution, balance, and gait changes.

• Provides clinicians with real-time data for remote patient monitoring.

• Can be adapted for diabetic neuropathy risk prediction.

🌍 Already used in rehabilitation — now finding applications in diabetic foot prevention worldwide.

📊 5. PredictDx Diabetic Foot (Concept Platform)

Purpose: Predictive analytics platform for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) risk

What it does:

• Aggregates patient data (blood glucose, temperature, vascular flow, neuropathy metrics).

• Uses AI-driven risk scoring models to forecast likelihood of foot ulcers.

• Sends preventive care alerts to both patients and healthcare teams.

⚙️ Turning reactive medicine into predictive healthcare through big data.

🌟 Bonus Mention:

Microsoft AI for Health and Google’s Med-PaLM are now partnering with health institutions in India to explore similar early detection frameworks for chronic diseases — including diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular conditions.

1. BofA says AI is boosting bankers' productivity, revenue

2. IAMAI flags ‘overreach’ risk in draft AI labelling rules

3. How AI Is Eliminating the Outdated Organizational Structures That Cost Businesses Time and Money

4. Facebook Marketplace gets new collaborative and social features, Meta AI integrations

5. Google boss warns 'no company is going to be immune' if AI bubble bursts

Join Our Elite Community For Comprehensive AI Mastery

🚀 Welcome to TAWAI ‘Generative AI In A Box’ Membership! 🌐🤖

Embark on an exhilarating journey into the transformative world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with our cutting-edge membership. Experience the power of AI as it revolutionizes industries, enhances efficiency, and drives innovation.

Our membership offers structured learning through the Generative AI Program and immerses you in a community that keeps you updated on the latest AI trends. With access to curated resources, case studies, and real-world applications, TAWAI empowers you to master AI and become a pioneer in this technological revolution.

Embrace the future of AI with the TAWAI ‘Generative AI In A Box’ Membership and be at the forefront of innovation. 🌟🤖

Sanjukta Chakrabortty
Gen. AI Explorer