SIR – Two years ago I faced the most frightening moment of my life when I was told my left leg might need to be amputated due to a diabetes-related complication.

I was rushed into a five-hour operation and luckily the surgeons saved my leg. Sadly I can no longer kick a football or go running with my dog, but I realise how lucky I am that my leg was saved from being amputated.

My hope now is that my story can help raise awareness of the importance of looking after your feet when you have diabetes, and this is why I am supporting Diabetes UK’s Putting Feet First campaign which aims to reduce the diabetes-related amputation rate by half.

At present 120 amputations take place in the UK each week due to diabetes – but Diabetes UK says 80 per cent of these are preventable. It is vital that people with diabetes understand the importance of good foot care, that foot care services are improved, and the people know what foot care services they should expect to receive.

You can download the “What To Expect At Your Annual Foot Check” leaflet and find out more about the Putting Feet First campaign at: diabetes.org.uk/putting-feet-first To order free copies of the leaflet, please visit: shop.diabetes.org.uk/go/foot-check.

Gary Mabbutt MBE, Honorary Vice President of Diabetes UK