Truck driver Jake Williams from Flemington in Melbourne was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 11 years old. Once he and his family got over the initial shock of diagnosis, Jake got into a routine of dealing with his diabetes and throughout his teens gave as little thought as possible to managing his health.

Busy with work and the responsibilities of being a new dad, diabetes was definitely on the back burner during his twenties; “I really didn’t let my diabetes have much effect on my life. When you have a young family and you’re busy with work, it’s easy to miss appointments and ignore any little warning signs”

“In 2005, things started to go downhill. I wasn’t looking after myself as well as I should have been and I began to feel more and more unwell. Firstly my kidneys failed, which I thought would be the worst of it but I was lucky enough to get a transplant and hoped that I’d be able to stay on top of things from then on.

“Then a few years later, I went out and bought a new pair of thongs that turned out to be a little tight around the toes. There was a bit of rubbing and a wound developed but I didn’t think too much about it. However, no matter what I did, the sore would not go away and eventually I went to the doctor, but by that time a lot of damage was done and next thing you know I was in hospital for two and a half months.

“In 2011, after many different treatments and trips to hospital, I lost my left foot and part of my right foot. It has had a major impact on my life. Your big toes mightn’t seem like much hanging off the edge of your foot but the reality is I had to learn to walk again.

“You take so many things for granted. I mean I know there are people worse off than me but I never imagined that a small sore could lead to losing my foot.”

Father to two young boys aged 12 and 4, Jake plays an active part in his local community, helping out with under 18 AFL side, Calder Cannons and he is also President of the Flemington Colts Cricket Club. Jake believes he would have acted more quickly if he had realised how rapidly foot problems could progress and would love to see “better education for Australians with diabetes, so we can act early, look after our feet and stop problems before they develop into life changing complications.”