Mabbutt has type 1 diabetes, and became an icon for many children with the condition. He famously appeared on the BBC's children's television programme Blue Peter where he demonstrated injecting insulin into an orange to show how he dealt with his condition on a daily basis. In 2013, Mabbutt had surgery to save his left leg, following a bout of peripheral arterial disease, brought on by his diabetes. Following the surgery, he can no longer run or kick a ball. Mabbutt was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1994 New Year Honours for services to football. Mabbutt was awarded an Hon. Master of Science degree from the University of Hertfordshire in 1998, an Hon. Doctor of Health degree from the University of Bath in 2018 and an Hon. Doctor of Law degree from the University of Bristol in 2019. He served as an ambassador for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa. He is also working with the Deloitte Street Child World Cup, training and encouraging street children and ex-street children in football and for street children's rights in Durban, South Africa. This is run by the Amos Trust. He is currently a Global Club Ambassador for Tottenham Hotspur FC and the English Football Association, an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust and Hon. Vice-President of Diabetes UK. During the Covid 19 Pandemic, 2020/21, Mabbutt has been calling Spurs fans who are in the "Vulnerable" age bracket (over 70's) making sure that they are keeping in good health. He has made over 2,500 calls, around 625 hours on the phone. In 2018, Mabbutt had part of his foot eaten by a rat. While on holiday with his daughter in the Kruger National Park, in South Africa, Mabbutt, who has little feeling in his feet due to diabetic neurophy, awoke to find a rat had eaten part of his foot and had bitten one toe to the bone. He was forced to fly back to the UK for surgery and spent a week in hospital. Honours Tottenham Hotspur UEFA Cup: 1983–84 FA Cup: 1990–91; runner-up: 1986–87 FA Charity Shield: 1991 (shared) Orders Member of the Order of the British Empire: 1994 References External links 1961 births Living people Footballers from Bristol English footballers England under-21 international footballers England B international footballers England international footballers Association football defenders Association football midfielders Bristol Rovers F.C. players