Diabetes Alert Day and Essential Foot Care for Diabetics

Two important events today have conspired by some some kind of synchronicity to make me find time to blog!

Firstly, my new book, "Essential Foot Care for Diabetics" is free on Amazon for today only. It's not expensive anyway, but I wanted as many people as possible to benefit from my expertise - I can't treat the hole world, alrtthough it sometimes feels like I'm trying to!

There's lots of nutritional expertise in the book, too, but it's still a quick and easy read and vital for all diabetes suffers.

The second important event is Diabetes Alert Day in the USA, which is suffering an epidemic of diabetes. Thankfully, people are waking up to the fact that a poor diet, high in all kinds of sugars, is a major factor in type two diabetes.

So, as well as increasing awareness of diabetes and the possible consequences in terms of amputations and other health issues, this is a perfect opportunity to make people more aware of their feet and the role they can play in alerting people to the onset of the disease.

Here's the Amazon.com link to the book which, as I say, is free for today only.

And here's the UK link for the book.

Enjoy the book and please take care of your feet!


Elizabeth

Essential Foot Care for Diabetics

One of the most inportant groups of people we see at the Foot Care Centre in Kings Lynn is diabetic patients. Of course, all our clients are important but the extra care that's necessary when treating the feet of diabetic people means we take extra pride in our expertise and knowledge.

Recent publicity about standards of care for diabetic patients has highlighted the importance even more. That's why I'v just published my first book on Amazon, called Essential Foot Care for Diabetics. (UK link)

Without this expert care and attention, diabetic patients are at serious risk of major complications and even amputations. In some parts of the country these amputation rates are ten times higher than in other regions.

So, a couple of pounds or so (or $2.99) for a book that details all the essential points about foot care for diabetic patients has to be a good investment.

That applies to diabetic people themselves, their carers and relatives, health workers, and foot care professionals. Essential Foot Care for Diabetics is available from Amazon, wherever you live. You don't need a Kindle to read it, either, just a free app for your computer or mobile device.

Elizabeth

PS. The advice in this book could easily save a limb! Here's the Amazon.com link again and here's the UK link.

How the NHS Foot Care Crisis Affects Diabetics

Did you know that you could be ten times more likely to lose a limb through diabetes in some parts of the country compared to others?

That astonishing fact doesn't just reflect well on the areas where the proper tests and treatments are being performed - it shows how abysmally the NHS treats diabetes patients in general. Specific problems associated with diabetes, like peripheral neuropathy - lack of sensation in the extremities - can be helped by specialists like foot care professionals who can be trained to spot the first signs of trouble.

That's why we're extremely careful at the Foot Care Centre to assess what are known as 'contra-indications' - reasons why a standard treatment might be a bad idea or even dangerous - especially with clients affected by diabetes.

And it's why we'll be publishing a short book very soon on foot care for diabetics, as well as including a detailed section in the main book due to be published in the next month or so.

While the NHS struggles to give you the treatments and care you need and deserve, we'll be doing our utmost to help as much as we can!

Watch this space, or our Twitter and Facebook Pages for news of both books.

Elizabeth

Huge Demand for Foot Care Practitioners

In case you wondered if there was a real demand for foot care professionals, take note of the number of foot care patients in just one county, Staffordshire - 42,700! Then notice that the county's health service has just removed over 11,000 of them from their waiting list.

That's 11,000 untreated foot care clients in one county...

A story on This is Staffordshire (www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk) explains:

"Plans are also being considered for high street chemists, nurses and care home staff to be drafted in to offer a simple toenail-cutting service.

Officials said action was needed because the lists had nearly doubled in three years to a staggering nine per cent of the entire North Staffordshire population.

Much of the explosion has been put down to a growth in people diagnosed with diabetes and so requiring regular chiropody consultations to prevent their foot problems leading to complications such as limb amputations."

It sounds to me like there's a need for a much more complete service than simple nail cutting! There's a huge demand for professional foot care and it can only increase. 

But Staffordshire isn't the only county where services are being cut, is it? If there are 11,000 people needing professional foot care in Staffs, how many are there in your area?

You can train in professional foot care and become a quailified Foot Care Practitioner in just a few weeks with The College of Foot Care Practitioners in the historic Norfolk coastal town of Kings Lynn. Visit the website now and then get in touch!

Elizabeth

Urgent News from the Foot Care Centre!

There are two urgent pieces of news that I realise I should have shared with you here!!

First and most urgent - tomorrow, Friday 18 November, is Foot Awareness Day. We've been making quite a splash with this on the websites, Twitter and Facebook, so if you Google it you'll probably find the links, but here's some more information about Foot Awareness Day on the College website.

If you're a foot care provider yourself you can still cash in on this Foot Awareness Day andthe next one. There are resources available on the membership site to help you do that. Membership is free.

The second piece of news is our open day at the Foot Care Centre on Saturday. We'll be open between 10am and 2pm, and everyone is welcome to pop in for a free foot health assessment.

The Foot Care Centre is at 4B Tower Street, Kings Lynn. That's very close to the Majestic cinema and there's parking nearby.


Elizabeth

Join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/footcarecollege

Follow us on Twitter @Footcare_Centre

Can this Simple Solution Reduce Ulcers and Amputations for Diabetes Sufferers?

This article from the college website blog:

“DIABETICS could be offered a vital breakthrough in avoiding complications which can lead to leg amputations using a device from a Yorkshire company that was originally pioneered to soothe the aching feet of workers facing long periods standing up. New research by experts has found the specialist insoles could help prevent diabetics developing foot ulcers,” says The Yorkshire Post.
Continue reading...

Elizabeth

The College Celebrates its First Diploma Graduates!!

NEWS RELEASE:

Five proud and newly trained foot care practitioners have graduated with flying colours from the first Diploma in Foot Care course at The College of Foot Care Practitioners in King’s Lynn.

Says course leader Elizabeth Dutton, “Up until now we have been running shorter courses for therapists who wanted to add basic foot care to their skills. Our Diploma course, accredited by the NCFE, came about as a result of popular demand and we have our first five graduates!”

The Diploma, covering anatomy and physiology, a wide range of practical skills and a bespoke business and marketing plan, means the graduates are now ready to set up in business.

Kerry Thomas, one of the graduates says, “It was a fun, interesting and intensive course; I can’t believe all the things we have learned! I already have several clients booked and am looking forward to it all taking off.”

Will the Diploma become a regular feature? Says Elizabeth, “Absolutely! There is a shortage of foot care practitioners, so we’ll be doing our bit to help that demand. We’ll be running a few per year, with the next one starting late January.” She adds, “Your age and background don’t matter – it’s a truly equal opportunities career!”

People can see more about the new graduates and courses at www.tcfcp.co.uk.

## ENDS ##

Contact Elizabeth Dutton
The Foot Care Centre, 4B Tower St, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1EJ
E: info@tcfcp.co.uk

Foot Care Websites

We've had a bit of a shuffle around with our websites. We decided it makes more sense to have the Foot Care Training domain as a hub for all our various sites, with links from there to the college site and the membership website.

College of Foot Care Practitioners 

So, you now click here to go to The College of Foot Care Practitioners website.

If you're already offering foot care but want to train in more skills, we can help you attain those…and help you market them. Click here to find out what foot care courses are on offer.

Foot Care Pros Membership site

This is the site for foot care professionals, foot health practitioners, podiatrists and chiropodists, and other therapists who wish to add foot health care to their practice. You’re welcome whether you are an expert or haven’t yet started. It’s FREE to join, no matter where you have trained or which country you’re in!

Foot Care Clinic in Kings Lynn

Meanwhile, we still offer professional foot care services, and here's the link to the Foot Care Centre Kings Lynn website.

Elizabeth

Talking of Trekking...

Here's an article on the website all about choosing those so-vital walking boots!!!

Elizabeth

It's a Challenge - and Not Just for Feet!

Monday morning saw parents and teenagers converging on King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds promptly at 8.am - even though the summer term ended last Friday.

Why were they there? Well, the parents were saying goodbye, but the teeneagers were about to set off on a life-changing trip and a real challenge, in the mountains and tropical forests of Nepal.

We're very proud to be sponsoring the trip for one of those lucky teenagers, and we look forward to hearing all about it when they get back to England in four weeks' time. He'll be trekking in the Himalayas for much of the time, so healthy feet and good boots and socks were vital pieces of equipment for him!

He also took a blister kit, enough hygienic wipes to keep everything clean and infection-free for a month and walking poles - said to reduce impact on knees and ankles by up to sixty percent. He probably also has enough first aid supplies for the whole team, but you can't be too careful! Camping at altitude means he also has to carry enough layered clothing to keep warm and a very good sleeping bag - which all costs money.

The World Challenge trip was organised through the school but still costs each participant several thousand pounds just to participate - which they had to raise themselves - and The Foot Care Centre and The College of Foot Care Practitioners were very pleased to be able to help.

I'll update you on how it went just as soon as I know myself !!!

Elizabeth

** Great News for Foot Care Pros **

We have some great news for you if you're a foot care professional or thinking of becoming one.

It can be time comsuming and, at times, bewildering, trying to find materials to help you
with your foot care techniques and businesses.

And, as some of our students tell us, it can be a bit lonely out there.

We've taken all the comments on board and the good news is, for the time being at least,
we're making our membership site available for NO CHARGE to everyone who is:

~ A foot care practitioner (of whatever level)
~ Using foot care in their complementary therapy practice
~ Thinking about going into foot care

So, go across to http://www.footcaretraining.co.uk and have a look!

Even if you have already joined at Bronze level, you'll see you now have access to
all parts of the site.

Here are the things you'll see:

:: Training updates

:: Forum (share stories and finds, ask questions, etc, with other foot care pros)

:: Get in the directory

:: Foot care articles and videos

:: Business and marketing advice

:: Offers (such as discounted insurance and websites)

:: Materials for you to use in your own websites, etc

Yes, all that and more...and at no charge to you.

Sign up now at http://www.footcaretraining.co.uk/join/

With very best wishes to you from
Elizabeth (foot care trainer) and Jacqui (foot care marketer)

The College of Foot Care Practitioners, 4B Tower St, King?s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1EJ, UK