£10,000 donation to help diabetic islanders with foot problems

Sunday 14 March 2021

A local charity that supports islanders with diabetes has received a £10,000 donation to help provide better care for those suffering foot problems.

Diabetes Jersey has used the funds from Le Gallais Real Estates to purchase a wide range of specialist podiatry equipment.

Care of the feet is of particular interest to people with diabetes as foot problems are one of the common complications of the condition and are caused by nerve damage (neuropathy) or damage to blood vessels in the feet and legs. 

Neuropathy causes a loss of feeling in the feet which means that a small problem like a cut, blister or sore can become serious if not treated early. In the worst cases this can lead to amputation.

Diabetes Jersey’s announcement was made during ‘National Feet Week’, which aims to draw attention of the importance of feet.

Bill O’Brien, the charity’s Chairman, described the donation as “magnificent”, highlighting how it would “provide a fantastic opportunity for it to be used for the benefit of people with diabetes."

Tim Le Gallais, Managing Director of Le Gallais Real Estates Limited, added: “Having had a personal interest in the impact of diabetes especially in the area of podiatry, we were very happy to support the charity in this particular initiative which we are confident, as is Diabetes Jersey, that it will be great benefit to those with the condition.”