Nationwide — Olubiyi Jibowu, a Black father from London, unfortunately had to have his leg amputated after a home pedicure turned into a life-threatening infection. The 57-year-old didn’t know he had type 2 diabetes, which led to serious complications after soaking his feet in hot water.
In July 2023, Jibowu prepared for a summer pedicure by soaking his feet in hot water mixed with Himalayan salt. Because of nerve damage caused by undiagnosed diabetes, he couldn’t feel how hot the water was and developed blisters immediately.
To prevent infection, he poured a strong disinfectant over the burns, which is something his mother used in the past. But it only made things worse. “It was pain I can’t even describe. I’m a big guy, but it was just too much,” Jibowu said, according to People.
His skin eventually blackened and peeled away, exposing bone. Despite the pain, he continued working until his manager saw the wound and urged him to get medical help.
At the hospital, doctors diagnosed him with diabetes and started treatment, but the infection had already spread. It progressed to sepsis, a dangerous reaction to infection. By August 2023, just a month after the incident, doctors had to amputate his leg.
Jibowu said the surgery brought relief from the pain, but accepting the loss was difficult.
“The moment the amputation happened, it relieved the pain I was feeling, but I was struggling with acceptance,” Jibowu said. “I thought, ‘Am I going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life?’ It was a really hard pill to swallow. I couldn’t even cry. It was just life-changing. The prosthetic was a light at the end of the tunnel.”
The prosthetic he received was too heavy and uncomfortable, so he started a GoFundMe to raise money for a lighter titanium leg. It has so far raised over £7,000, or $9,400.
Now, Jibowu is urging others not to treat foot injuries at home and to seek medical care for foot injuries, especially if they have or suspect diabetes. He said, “If I had had a little bit of insight, if I knew I was diabetic, it would have alleviated everything I went through.”