As an internationally recognised expert for vascular diabetic disease Dr Ritter was part of the expert panel developing the new Australian guidelines for diabetes related foot disease.

Monopoli is a small city in Perugia in the south of Italy looking out over the azure blue of the Adriatic Sea. It was a peaceful spot for Kevin Towers-Hammond and his wife to while away a couple of weeks at the end of a European holiday of a lifetime. But it was also almost the beginning of a nightmare. Diabetes Australia asked Kevin to talk them through his journey.

In November 2015, Steve, from Rockingham in Western Australia, became one of the 4,400 Australians who underwent a diabetes-related amputation. While that was tough the worst, or so it seemed, was still to come. Diabetes Australia asked Stephen to talk them through his journey.

As part of Diabetes Australia's 4400 Reasons campaign they spoke to specialist vascular surgeon Dr J Carsten Ritter from Western Australia about his role in treating people with diabetes facing diabetes-related amputations and what’s contributing to higher rates in regional and remote communities.