THUNDER BAY – Research suggests 85 per cent of diabetes related amputations are preventable, so local organizations came together to raise awareness along with funds for foot care during National Diabetes Month.
Matawa Health Co-operative partnered with St. Josephs Foundation of Thunder Bay for the inaugural Stepping out for Foot Health Walk, at Intercity Shopping Centre on Sunday.
The walk is designed to raise awareness and funds for footwear to help reduce the number of amputations among people living with diabetes.
Nick Kwiatkowski, certified diabetes educator with Matawa Health Co-operative, said Matawa works for nine different First Nations.
“The partnership with St. Joe's really helps get shoes, helps get awareness and helps prevent amputations.
“It gives people the footwear that they need and the education that they need, especially, we're in the north where our amputation risks are so high with so limited resources,” he said.
Diabetes is four to five times more likely in northern communities, he added.
“Likely, this is due to improper education, the high cost of food and genetics play a big role in that.
“We know that our (Indigenous people) amputation risk is about seven times higher than the provincial average which is quite concerning. So, events like this, getting people to step and walk for health, is really important because we can raise awareness and also raise funds to get people shoes,” Kwiatkowski said.
Kwiatkowski said many of the shoes that have been given away were to First Nations people or people who are vulnerable and can't afford a pair of shoes.
“If people are fortunate enough to have pairs of shoes for Christmas, that's wonderful. But donating to the foundation helps get that awareness out there,” he said
Giving the shows to clients is also a teaching opportunity, Kwiatkowski said.
“I was able to teach them about the importance of shoes, showing them how to properly fit the shoes.
“We were able to talk about the importance of orthotics and shoes as well, which for people who have wounds, there might be a temporary shoe that they wear, but then transition into orthotics.
“We can use these shoes as sort of a teaching opportunity,” he said.
Gail Brescia, president of St. Joseph's Foundation of Thunder Bay, said this is the first walk for diabetes and there was enthusiasm from organizers and attendees alike.
“We're looking forward to keeping this going well into the future because there's such a need in Northwestern Ontario and our community.
“Throughout last year, we gave away almost 700 pairs of shoes for people who needed appropriate footwear that couldn't afford them or didn't have the access. We really are valuing the opportunity to promote the activity as well as raise the funds that we need to buy more shoes,” she said.
Brescia said the primary goal for funding is to raise $50,000 this year, to enable the purchase of shoes and to be able to provide them throughout the region.
Carolyn Freitag, vice president of clinical and chief nursing executive with St. Joseph's Care Group, said St. Joseph's Care Group offers diabetes health to clients and the people in the community.
“It's super important to be aware of health and keep your feet well, because paying attention to injuries or wounds really is the upstream prevention for people to avoid amputations.
“We're really thrilled to be out here today with Mattawa Health Co-operative and the Knights of Columbus and Foundation at St. Joseph's to really raise this awareness as partners. It is a huge issue here in the northwest, and raising awareness for diabetes health and foot health is super important for people to stay well,” Freitag said.
Michael McBride, spiritual advisor for council 7332 with the Knights of Columbus, said he brought this to their council also because they had a member who was a bilateral amputee due to diabetes.
“We've lost him in the last five years, but we know with the efforts he took in ensuring his health, we want to make sure that others had that same drive and the same positive outcomes that he exhibited and that is through raising the funds through our organization and St. Joseph's Foundation.
McBride said when we think about diabetes, there are over 23 things the individual has to do well every single day. One of them is foot care.
“Unfortunately, when you're too worried about getting good food, other things have to slip and sometimes that's foot care. What happens is the skin will break down and eventually lead to what they call diabetic foot ulcers, which can lead to amputations.
“It is extremely important to us to make sure that we bring awareness to the disease throughout this month. But also, to the awareness that there are many people out there that can't just go to a store and pick up a pair of shoes. We want to help those folks to have a full and complete life,” McBride said.
For more information, or to donate visit SJFTB.
