  1) Objectives Most foot ulcers are the consequence of a trauma (repetitive
high stress, ill-fitting footwear, or an object inside the shoe) associated to
diabetes. They are often followed by amputation and shorten life expectancy.
This paper describes the prototype of the Smart Diabetic Socks that has been
developed in the context of the French ANR TecSan project. The objective is to
prevent pressure foot ulcers for diabetic persons. 2) Material and methods A
fully wireless, customizable and washable "smart sock" has been designed. It is
made of a textile which fibers are knitted in a way they provide measurements
of the pressure exerted under and all around the foot in real-life conditions.
This device is coupled with a subject-specific Finite Element foot model that
simulates the internal strains within the soft tissues of the foot. 3) Results
A number of derived stress indicators can be computed based on that analysis,
such as the accumulated stress dose, high internal strains or peak pressures
near bony prominences during gait. In case of risks for pressure ulcer, an
alert is sent to the person and/or to the clinician. A watch, a smart-phone or
a distant laptop can be used for providing such alert.
