Find out how our team of experienced dietitians can help you.
Gout can be a painful condition and type of arthritis which typically affects men more than women. It is a condition caused by the build-up of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is one of the breakdown products of the body’s metabolism.
High levels of uric acid in the blood can lead to crystals of uric acid being deposited your joints, which cause inflammation and leads to joint pain. Gout can affect other parts of the body such as the hands, but it is most common in the feet.
Our virtual clinic makes it easy to connect with one of our specialist clinicians, while still ensuring personalised treatment and effective results, wherever you are.
Use our online booking tool to select an appointment at a time & date that suit you.
If it's your first time using our service, you'll need to register your account with us.
You'll receive an email with clear instructions showing you how to join your virtual appointment.
Your dietitian will join virtually to discuss your diet, lifestyle & health goals.
A visit to your GP should be your first course of action for blood tests and potentially medication. Your next step will be to visit a dietitian for dietary advice.
Treatment will focus on reducing foods rich in purines and fat to control symptoms and maintain a healthy weight. Acute attacks of gout are usually treated by anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e. painkillers) which reduce the pain. However, these do not reduce the amount of uric acid in the blood so dietary intervention is required to lower these levels.
People who are overweight are more likely to have higher uric acid levels in their blood. It’s important to reduce the intake of high energy foods, such as fats and sugars, which should be done gradually as strict dieting can cause an increase in uric acid levels and bring on an attack of gout. Our Dietitians can identify other foods in your diet that are linked to your attacks.
In an acute attack of gout, you can experience extreme swelling and pain in the foot, mostly localised around the big toe joint. The foot will be very swollen and red with skin peeling away from around the joint.
Milder cases of gout will present as pain in the first joint, often worse after eating certain foods or after starting certain medication.
During your initial consultation, your Dietitian will assess your diet and lifestyle. The overall aim of diet therapy is to educate and show you how to manage gout for life.
Your Dietitian will also carry out a complete nutritional assessment, taking a diet history, body composition analysis including weight, BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage, lean body mass, waist to hip measurement and more. You will receive:
30-Minute Video Appointment With A Registered Dietitian: €50
30-Minute Appointment (Video or In-Person) At A Specialty Clinic: €50
Monday – Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday: 8am to 4pm
Sunday: Closed
*Please note, opening times can vary between clinics
This service is currently available nationwide through our Virtual Clinic
We work with all major insurers – Vhi, Laya and Irish Life. We recommend you check your own policy for its terms and conditions to see what cover you have.
Our Patient Services team is available to help you Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturdays from 8:00am to 4:00pm.
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