Do you have diabetes?

We are pleased to announce that from today we are now offering a FREE diabetic foot health check service. 

The Service is completely free, with no obligation. If you would like to know more about how diabetes affects your feet please see our earlier posts about diabetes. As part of your FREE assessment we will carry out a full sensory neurological examination of the feet and advise you of our findings. We will also advise on risk to your feet specifically associated with any pathological changes that we find. 

If you're a diabetic sufferer and would like to take advantage of the service, simply call us at the clinic on 

0141 5623082 or pop in if you're passing.

Podiatry Glasgow | Chiropodist Glasgow Foot Medic Podiatry Clinic in Bearsden Glasgow

Podiatry Glasgow

Podiatry Glasgow- Foot medic is a new clinic which has recently opened in Bearsden Glasgow offering their customers the best service they can provide and attending to your Podiatry needs. Although this clinic has only been operating for the last few weeks so far Ciaran, the owner of Foot Medic clinic in Bearsden has found that he is becoming busier by the day. Find out more about Ciaran and Foot Medic the new Podiatry Glasgow clinic in Bearsden HERE.

             

From simple Chiropody and Podiatry Glasgow services to a detailed biomechanical assessment we can help. Our podiatrists are HCPC registered practitioners and members of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. For your peace of mind, all our staff will treat you to the highest possible standards. We will always act in your best interest and take our duty of care to you very seriously. Our Podiatrists are qualified and licensed to sell, supply and administer a range of medications include some antibiotics and analgesics. Foot Medic podiatrists are also licensed to administer local anesthetic and are fully trained in nail surgery.

Podiatry Glasgow Foot Care  

Foot-Medic podiatry enables timely access to the care you require. We provide every aspect of the most basic chiropody care to the most advanced foot analysis for patients who suffer from diabetes or those with vascular problems. Our clinic is fully equipped with the latest technology to enable us to provide the best possible service locally, at a time which suits you.

NHS treatment has become harder to access for many and can involve lengthy waiting times. By seeing a Foot-Medic podiatrist Podiatry Glasgow foot care is available to you when you need it as you stay in control of when you are seen. So don't wait in pain and discomfort, from basic nail care to nail surgery, we can help.

Foot Medic Podiatry Glasgow Services

Choosing from the many options available for your health and well-being can be difficult. Foot-Medic Podiatry Glasgow are established specialists in the field. We will always discuss our diagnosis, ensure that you are aware of all treatment options and the associated costs involved. Because we always keep our fee structure clear you will not incur any unexpected costs. Our trained experts can be trusted to take good care of you and your feet.
Some of the services we provide include:

Basic foot care
Domicillary Care for less able clients
Verrucca treatment
Nail Surgery
Biomechanical Assessment and Orthothic therapies
Diabetic foot care and assessment
Footwear assessment and advice
Sports Injury clinics


Book an appointment with Foot Medic podiatry Glasgow services HERE and sign up for our newsletter giving you latest tips on foot care and news on our services.

Top 10 Foot Care Tips

10 Foot Care Tips

1. Inspect your feet daily.
This is one of the most important foot care tips because it can detect changes and problems may be prevented.  If you have any signs of trauma like redness or blisters, cuts, cracks, swelling or
color changes you should have these assessed by a podiatrist immediately. Using a mirror can help you see all areas on the bottoms of your feet, particularly if you have problems with mobility.

2. If the shoe fits?
These foot care tips may seem like common sense but there are many people out there who do not follow them and this can later cause a lot of problems with your feet. Be certain that your shoes fit with room to wiggle your toes. Always look and feel inside your shoes before putting them on, especially if you have diabetes. This is incase there are any foreign objects there, such as gravel, that could cause sores or irritation which could lead to complex problems. Always wear clean and well-fitting socks.

3. Toe the line
Wash your feet everyday and make sure that you dry them thoroughly paying particular attention between the toes. Making sure you have dried between the toes will minimise the risk of cracks in the skin and secondary fungal infection. By following these simple foot care tips you will find that over time your feet will feel and look much better.

Foot Care Tips To Give You Top Feet

4. Nail Care
Always cut your nails straight across and then smooth the edges with an emery board or nail file. If reaching your nails comfortably is a problem, have your podiatrist do this for you. This will also provide an opportunity for an overall foot check, both of services which we offer to our customers at our Podiatry clinic in Bearsden Glasgow.


5. PLEASE! Do not self-treat
Always see a podiatrist for corns, callus or ingrown toenails. Do not attempt to self-treat these conditions. Self treatment can often lead to secondary infections or delays in healing. 

6. Prevent Cracking
Having dry skin on your feet is common. Applying cream daily will help prevent dry skin from cracking but avoid putting cream between your toes. Cream in the crevices can make skin more susceptible to infection. Creams which contain urea will be much more effective in treating dry skin. Some simple steps like these foot care tips can inform people so they can look after their own feet and prevent infections.

Some Simple Foot Care Tips

7. Keep the blood flowing
Gentle daily exercise can help with circulation problems. Using the muscles in your lower leg activates what is known as the ‘muscle pump’ which helps return blood back up the leg. If you experience cramping of your calves while walking you must discuss this with your podiatrist. Lower leg cramping can be a sign of intermittent claudication, which is one of the first signs of impaired circulation.

8. Keeping it moderate
Protect your feet from extremes in temperature. Keep bath water temperate in the 85-90 F degree range (30-32 C). If you have diabetes or know that you have neuropathy, you may not be able to feel if the water is too hot, and you could suffer serious burns. Never use heating pads or hot water bottles if you have loss of sensation of your feet. Protect your feet from temperatures that are too cold if you
already know you have a circulation problem. Prolonged exposure to cold can decrease circulation in your feet even more.

9. Pump It Up
Ask your healthcare professional about an exercise program that's right for you. If you need advice on the right footwear for your chosen activity your podiatrist will be able to explain the differences and help you choose from the vast range of shoes out there. The right shoe for the job is vital to reduce the risk of problems.

10. Last and definitely not least.
It's so important to practice preventative care like the tips listed here, every day. If
you notice anything that does not look normal please arrange an assessment with
your podiatrist immediately. Prevention is always better than cure, so discuss any
concerns regarding your feet with your podiatrist. The Podiatrist will explain why
your feet are the way they are and what you can do to prevent injury and keep you
comfortable for longer.

Over pronation

In keeping with the idea that we're going to update you with things we see, we thought this was appropriate.

Some people get very excited when pronation gets mentioned. First of all lets clear up a few things.

Pronation is normal.

There....we said it.

It is a normal movement which allows your foot to adapt and subsequently allows your body to pass over the top of it in order for you to take a step. To clarify, pronation and supination are normal movements which occur around primarily one joint although others are involved. Biomechanics is a complex discipline and this isn't a lesson in biomechanics, but just to clear up some issues we've been asked about over the past few weeks.

While pronation is normal, a person can have an excessive amount of pronation. In lay terms, this is where the foot 'rolls' in too much during gait. The image shows a person with substantial excessive pronation. This places stresses on the tissues of the foot and limb that they were never designed for and in some cases can lead to pain and discomfort. Interestingly though, some people who have excessive pronation report no symptoms at all. The reasons behind this are still unclear.

Biomechanical evaluation will help a podiatrist determine the cause of your pain or discomfort. He/She will assess your foot structure, how it moves and importantly the rest of your leg and body. Podiatrists will look at how you move in general looking for tell-tale signs of a problem such as head tilt and spinal curvature along with hip or knee misalignment. By forming a complete picture of your non-weight baring function combined with a gait analysis they will formulate a clear picture of why you feel the way you do.


In some cases, the use of orthotic devices can help. Sometimes clients think this means they will need to spend lots of money. This isn't always the case. It is true that having something made for you, in the form of a custom or bespoke orthotic device will be more expensive than a mass produced device. Here at the clinic we would only recommend a custom insole if we believed it was the appropriate treatment. Even then, the choice is yours. Various prefabricated devices are available and prices will vary. We always explain the range of options available along with the pro and cons of each device.

Some research shows that in some cases, prefabricated devices work equally well as custom devices. It is important to note however that this doesn't apply to every case and indeed in some cases, the best option will be to have an bespoke orthotic made.

If you have a painful condition such as shin splints, plantar fasciitis or any other foot or limb problem a biomechanical assessment could reveal the causes behind the pain. Treatment with pain killers and anti-inflammatory medication is effective but does not address the cause, they merely treat the symptoms. Orthotic therapy directly influences the cause.

Hitting the nail on the head

So many people are horrified at the thought of toe nail removal. Well they shouldn't be! Nail removal is not the horrible thing people imagine it to be. Some people still describe and worry about an old fashioned procedure called the zadek's procedure. This involved cutting the toe to access and destroy the nail growth source. This procedure is not commonly used today and having nail surgery is not how it used to be.



Suitably qualified podiatrists are experts in nail surgery and can remove problem nails with minimum discomfort to the patient.

These days nail surgery is carried out under local anesthetic. If you haven't had this before, at the dentist for example, it means that the area where the podiatrist will work will have no feeling while the drug is having an effect meaning you feel no pain - whatsoever! Importantly, it may not always be necessary to remove all of the nail, and your podiatrist would only remove the minimum possible to give you permanent relief from the problem.

Once the nail has been removed, a chemical called phenol is applied. This helps to destroy the nail matrix to ensure the chances of your problem nail growing back are kept to a minimum. 

Please don't worry about nail surgery. It's quick and  relatively painless. If you have nails which have repeatedly ingrown speak to us today to see if you and your nail could benefit from nail surgery. If you have any questions about nail surgery, like who can do it, what’s involved and how long it will take to heal, call us today so we can advise you and if appropriate arrange an assessment for you.

Verrucae? Wart? Corn? Just what are verrucae?

Verrucae are a common problem. These are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Verrucae are normally self limiting and harmless but if they develop on a weight-baring surface can become painful. Although most common in children and teenagers they can occur in anyone who uses communal changing facilities without foot protection.




On the whole, most verrucca will self resolve without the need to to anything but this can take a long time. If treatment is required, several options exist, although evidence suggests that none show more effectiveness than another.

Treatment options include; Acid based or caustic solutions, Cryotherapy, Electrosurgery and Laser. If you think you might have a verrucae, make an appointment to have it assessed and discuss your treatment options. Due to the nature of verrucae you may require repeated treatments. If you are diabetic, have any vascular or neurological problem please consult your podiatrist prior to self treatment.

Diabetes and your Feet

A busy week at the clinic!

We see our fair share of diabetic patients at the clinic most weeks. Sometimes the patients we see are not so sure about just how diabetes affects their feet or just how important it is to have regular foot checks.

So we've put together a few points that everyone should know about diabetes, in plain english so that everyone reading it can understand.

The first thing to note is that diabetes is generally split into two groups called type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Treatment guidelines have changed of late and many people who would have been considered type 2 diabetic now use insulin as part of their treatment plan.

Diabetes is a condition resulting from either, the absence of insulin in the body to help break down and use glucose from the blood, or having some insulin but having too little or poor quality.

Diabetes can have serious implications for your feet and legs. If you have poorly controlled blood glucose particularly over a long period of time changes can happen to the nerve and blood vessel tissues in your lower limbs. So what! you might say.

Well, if the nerve tissue changes and becomes less conductive, this is called peripheral neuropathy. Having peripheral neuropathy increases the risk of injury. Because the feeling can be absent in the foot injuries are common, although often the sufferer is unaware of injury to the foot. The result of this can lead to breakdown of the tissue, or as we call it, ulceration.

Ulceration is complicated because of the hardening of the arteries which is also caused by prolonged poor glucose control. Sufferers will lack the ability to supply damaged tissue with a sufficient blood supply. This prolongs healing, increasing the risk of infection and ultimately leads to gangrene and amputation.

Now heres the scary part...statistically, the mortality rate (chances of death related to the disease) is greatly increased if an amputation has been required. What we find is that, in general, because diabetes is a 'silent' disease', often without any outward signs, people either dismiss it, deny it, or just don't understand enough about it. It is that serious. Diabetes, if poorly controlled or neglected for periods of time can seriously impact on your foot health and ultimately lead to your premature departure.

Finally, the best way that you can prevent these changes happening for as long as possible is to maintain good blood glucose levels. What we mean by that is your average blood sugar levels. Daily readings will fluctuate, this is normal even in a person who doesn't have diabetes. The average blood sugar is measured by HbA1c. Because the recommended level can change sometimes there's little point in writing it down here, but we would encourage all patients we come across in the clinic to discuss their blood glucose levels with the GP. Ask the GP for your HbA1c levels, learn about getting it to the best levels you can, and finally, own your disease, take control of it, don't allow diabetes to control you, or to destroy your quality of life.

If you have diabetes and are worried about your feet, or if you have any other questions about your feet please contact the clinic to arrange your assessment today. We will be happy to advise you and to carry out your diabetic foot check.

For more information about diabetes visit http://www.diabetes.org.uk/