The biometric shoe: could 3D printed footwear and machine learning theoretically reduce complications from diabetes?

Recent advances in technology have given us 3D printed footwear for marathon runners, along with insoles capable of measuring in-shoe temperature and pressure. Custom 3D printed biometric footwear for those with diabetes and neuropathy therefore seems a natural development but has yet to emerge. The authors discuss both the feasibility of developing a 3D printed shoe incorporating sensors to provide real-time microclimate data and some of the practical problems that remain, including a brief outline of recent advances in this field.