Bengaluru, May 22 (Reporter) Captain Naveen Nagappa, a Kargil war hero and former Indian Army officer, will share his inspiring story of resilience and recovery through multiple leg surgeries at the Podocon—Biomechanics of Diabetic Foot Conference in Bengaluru. His address will highlight the significant challenges faced by veterans and the critical importance of timely medical intervention, especially in podiatric care. The conference will be held on May 25 and 26 at the JN Tata Auditorium, inaugurated by Dr Shalini Rajneesh, Additional Chief Secretary. Captain Nagappa will serve as the guest of honour. In conjunction with the conference, Foot Secure, a leading phygital podiatry platform, will organise a 3K diabetic foot awareness walkathon in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The walkathon starts at 7:15 AM from FootSecure in Malleswaram and ends at JN Tata Auditorium on CV Raman Road. Now in its sixth edition, Podocon is expected to attract around 300 delegates, including diabetic foot surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, diabetologists, endocrinologists, podiatrists, physicians, entrepreneurs, key opinion leaders, researchers, and decision-makers. Dr Sanjay Sharma, a renowned podiatric surgeon and founder of Foot Secure, noted that the conference will feature discussions on the latest advancements in wound care dressings, regenerative medicine, and the management of Charcot Foot. Panels and symposia will present pioneering research from around the world, and a pre-conference workshop on biomechanics and pedorthics led by international experts Dr. Lee Rogers, Drs Paul Graham, and Bijan Najafi will be held on May 24. Podiatry, dedicated to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of foot and ankle disorders, is crucial in managing diabetic foot conditions. In India, an estimated 140,000 major lower limb amputations occur annually among diabetic patients, with minor amputations raising the total to over 1.4 million per year. Dr Sharma emphasised the role of biomechanics in preventing up to 80% of these amputations through timely intervention. Dr Anant Suresh, Dean of IISc, highlighted innovative solutions in diabetic foot care: mechanical dynamic self-offloading footwear customized for individuals, a digital podiatry clinic for large-scale monitoring, and developing a foot digital twin using minimally invasive data acquisition. These efforts aim to protect the feet that support us every day...////...