A leading consultant vascular surgeon and professor at King Abdulaziz University says about 200,000 pilgrims afflicted with diabetes are expected to suffer from diabetic foot ulcer unless they take the necessary precautionary and preventive measures.

Professor Hassan ibn Ali Al-Zahrani said that about 20 percent of diabetics suffer malfunction in the peripheral nerves, which reduces their sense of diabetic foot pain.

He estimated the diabetics performing the holy rituals in this Haj season to be 10 percent of the total number of pilgrims, most of them elderly. The percentage is based on international statistics on diabetes in Arab and Islamic countries.

“Diabetic pilgrims are more susceptible to the diabetic foot problems, particularly during the performance of the circumambulation,” he said.

Some might be exposed to bruises resulting from being trampled. There is also the possibility of getting bruises from the carriages used for pilgrims doing saei (the ritual of running between the Mount Safa and Mount Marwah).

“Most injuries happen when the pilgrim is barefoot and he might not sense the pain while continuing the holy rituals, but they might subsequently worsen.

Similar symptoms might occur during the stoning ritual where patients walk barefoot on very hot surfaces, mainly on Arafat Day. “Therefore, diabetic persons must be extra careful,” he cautioned.

He warned against walking barefoot in such circumstances, and called on diabetics to wear light slippers while walking. He advised them to follow the directions and guidelines while walking.