Thermal Sensation Testing
Detects the earliest, small-fibre nerve damage by testing how your feet sense hot and cold, in India.
Thermal sensation testing for diabetic neuropathy in India checks how well your feet can tell hot from cold, detecting the small-fibre nerve damage that is often the earliest sign of diabetic neuropathy, frequently before touch or vibration are affected. At Elegance Diabetic Foot & Ulcer Clinic (EDFC) it is performed by Dr. Ashutosh Shah and our team at clinics in Surat, Gujarat and Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh.
Why Thermal Sensation Testing Matters
Temperature is carried by the small nerve fibres, which are usually the first to be damaged by diabetes. Testing hot and cold perception can therefore catch neuropathy at its earliest stage. The IWGDF 2023 guidelines highlight loss of protective sensation, including temperature sense, as a key driver of the burns and unnoticed injuries that lead to diabetic foot ulcers.
How Thermal Sensation Testing Is Done
- Warm and cool probes, or a calibrated thermal device, are applied to the foot.
- You are asked whether each contact feels warm, cool, or neither.
- The smallest temperature difference you can detect is recorded.
- Reduced hot/cold discrimination points to small-fibre nerve damage.
- The test is quick, non-invasive and uses safe, controlled temperatures.
Thermal testing complements monofilament testing and vibration perception testing, which mainly assess the large nerve fibres.
Who Should Get Thermal Sensation Testing
- People with early diabetes symptoms such as burning, tingling or foot pain.
- Those with normal touch and vibration tests but ongoing nerve symptoms.
- Anyone who has been burned or injured without feeling it.
- Patients wanting the earliest possible detection of diabetic neuropathy.
Why Choose EDFC and Dr. Ashutosh Shah
EDFC is India’s first dedicated diabetic foot-care chain, and it uses thermal testing to catch nerve damage while it is still reversible or manageable. Results are read as part of a full neurosensory examination and turned into an immediate prevention plan under Dr. Ashutosh Shah’s guidance.
What Happens After the Test
If temperature sensation is reduced, you receive advice to prevent burns and injuries, checking bath and floor temperatures, protective footwear, and regular reviews through preventive diabetic foot care. Normal results come with a sensible re-testing schedule.
Book Your Thermal Sensation Test
Catch nerve damage at its earliest stage. Message us on WhatsApp (+91 83205 00350) or book a consultation with Dr. Shah in Surat or Vizianagaram.
This page is educational and does not replace an in-person diagnosis. Please have any numbness, burning or foot injury assessed by a qualified specialist.