The Importance of Foot Care – For Diabetic Golfers and Diabetic Non-Golfers)

If you’re a diabetic or know someone with diabetes please pass on this PSA. Foot health is extremely important but when it comes to diabetics it’s absolutely vital. The likelihood is great that if you’re a diabetic you already know this. However, if you aren’t aware of the importance of feet than please let me deliver some straightforward real life experience.

Did you know that the slightest pressure or tiniest of cuts can cause a laundry list of health issues? These issues can run from a wound developing which can cause a variety of infections including but not limited to Staph and Osteomyelitis (infection of the bone). A full-blown diabetic ulcer that is slow to heal which can lead to necrosis (gangrene). From there it can be the loss of an appendage or limb.

Because of the situations that I described above a 9-year fight ended the other day in the form of an amputation.

My issues began in 2014 during the PGA Show. I noticed that my big toes was red and swollen. There was no cut however, by the time I was on a Southwest flight back to Buffalo I couldn’t stand to be in my own skin. Fever and pain consumed me and my pup always laid on or went after my feet. Muskoka knew that something bad was brewing. Before you knew it my toe had turned necrotic. It took a year of debriding and dressing changes before there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Since then, it was a nine year fight of continuous diabetic foot ulcers and debilitating infections. It was planned that I would have an amputation of the toe in the fall but it got moved up. During a routine appointment, it was determined that in less than two weeks I would have a procedure to remove my toe and release the tendons of my remaining toes. All of it being a concerted effort to give me the best chance to not having to deal with these issues.

Dr. Perry Mayer and his entire staff at Hamilton, Ontario’s The Mayer Institute are amazing. The level of care, empathy, and compassion shown is truly beyond words. I am so grateful and blessed to have them all as a part of my medical team.

Please take care of your feet and please share this with any diabetics that you may know. Urge and plead them to take care of and be vigilant of their feet. Have them visually check their feet nightly. Apply lotion. Make sure that they are wearing proper shoes on their feet that don’t constrict or squeeze their toes (preventing pressure wounds). Wear shoes that allow their feet to lay flat. I highly recommend SQAIRZ with New Balance and TRUE Linkswear being not too far behind.