Kolkata, Nov 12: On World Diabetes Day, Pediteq, the healthcare footwear brand from Excelsior Leathers Pvt. Ltd., has reaffirmed its commitment to making foot care a central part of the diabetes conversation in India. As the International Diabetes Federation marks 2026–27 with the theme “Early action on diabetes”, Pediteq is urging people living with diabetes, and those at risk, to check their feet regularly, get screened early and seek medical advice at the first sign of a problem.
India has the second-highest number of adults with diabetes in the world, estimated at about 89.8 million in 2024 by the IDF Diabetes Atlas. Around 43% of them are believed to be undiagnosed. Globally, nearly 4 in 10 people with diabetes do not know they have the condition. Late diagnosis often means complications are already present by the time treatment begins, and the feet are among the most commonly affected areas.
Over time, high blood sugar can damage the nerves and reduce blood flow to the feet. A person may stop feeling pain, heat or pressure, so a small cut, blister or pressure point can go unnoticed and turn into a non-healing ulcer. A meta-analysis of Indian studies published in 2024 estimated that about 6.2% of people with diabetes in India have a diabetic foot ulcer. Left untreated, such ulcers can lead to infection and, in severe cases, amputation. Most of these outcomes can be prevented through regular foot examination, appropriate footwear and prompt medical care.
A May 2018 policy brief from the International Decision Support Initiative, which supported India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in developing national diabetic foot care guidance, estimates that about 100,000 diabetes-related amputations are carried out in India every year and that up to 80% of them could be avoided with regular foot examinations. Globally, about 85% of diabetes-related amputations begin with a foot ulcer. The brief notes that foot disease affects nearly 4 million people with diabetes in India, about 6% of the total, and that diabetic foot ulcers contribute to 80% of all non-traumatic amputations. After a major amputation, 50% of patients go on to lose another limb within two years, and people with a history of foot ulcers are 40% more likely to die within 10 years than other people with diabetes. The brief recommends foot examinations for everyone with diabetes, multidisciplinary foot care centres in hospitals, and State-level implementation of national evidence-based guidance.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Anirudh Choudhary, Founder, Pediteq said:
“Foot health is often overlooked in conversations about diabetes, even though it can decide whether a person stays mobile and independent. The message this World Diabetes Day is to act early. Check your feet every day, do not ignore numbness or a small wound, and see a doctor promptly. At Pediteq, we want to bring medical knowledge and footwear engineering closer together, so that protecting the feet becomes a routine part of diabetes care.”
