What to eat for diabetic foot?

Written by Yang Li
Endocrinology
Updated on December 06, 2024
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Typically, patients with diabetic foot have had diabetes for a long period, and often have diabetic nephropathy, or serious hypoproteinemia and malnutrition. In such cases, patients with diabetic foot need to supplement with protein, specifically high-quality protein, and must avoid low-quality protein. What constitutes low-quality protein? This includes soy products and plant proteins. High-quality protein, on the other hand, includes sources like milk, eggs, poultry, and meat.

However, if renal insufficiency is present and creatinine levels have increased, the amount of protein must be limited. Protein intake should be calculated based on body weight and creatinine levels, using different coefficients to determine the total daily protein allowance. It is crucial to make these protein adjustments within the framework of a diabetic diet.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong
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What to eat for diabetic foot

The treatment of diabetic foot begins with good blood sugar control. Therefore, dietary control is necessary for diabetic foot. For diabetic patients, it is required to eat three meals a day at regular times and avoid multiple smaller meals or snacks. Foods such as fruits, nuts, and those high in fats should be eaten less frequently. Additionally, liquid foods like soups and porridges should also be reduced. Only when blood sugar is well-controlled can the treatment of diabetic foot be effective.

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Written by Luo Han Ying
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Can diabetic foot be cured?

Diabetes has many complications, and once detected, the complications of diabetes cannot be completely cured. Diabetic foot is a relatively serious complication of diabetes. Diabetic foot generally involves many years of underlying vascular and nerve damage that eventually leads to infection or ulceration, resulting in the final formation of diabetic foot. Whether such a serious complication can be cured actually depends on the duration of the patient’s condition, the extent of the lesion, and most importantly, how soon they seek medical attention. For instance, if the infection is very severe, has damaged the bone, or if there is dry gangrene with local tissue necrosis in the foot, then no matter what conservative treatment is applied, it will not be effective, and surgical amputation will be the only option, meaning the foot cannot be saved. However, if some individuals only have early-stage skin ulceration that cannot heal, or if there is an infection that is not very severe, and they seek medical attention early, controlling the infection and treating with nerve nutrition and vascular protection can actually heal the ulcerated area of the foot.

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incidence of diabetic foot

As the number of diabetic patients increases, the incidence of diabetic foot also rises. Currently, the prevalence of diabetic foot in China is 5.7%, which is below the global average. Diabetic foot primarily occurs in patients who have had diabetes for over ten years, often due to poor blood sugar control and inadequate care. Diabetic foot is also one of the three major non-traumatic causes of amputation. Therefore, the most severe consequence of diabetic foot is amputation.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong
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Where does diabetic foot hurt?

Diabetic foot refers to those with a history of diabetes who subsequently develop skin ulceration and pus formation on the feet, which can progress to localized gangrene or gangrene of the entire foot. This condition is then termed as diabetic foot. It is usually due to three factors: The first is vascular factors, often accompanied by arterial narrowing in both lower limbs, leading to ischemia and hypoxia. The second is neurological factors, typically accompanied by peripheral neuropathy, causing numbness in both feet and insensitivity to pain, thus often pain is not felt. The third factor involves the presence of an infection. These three factors together make it easy for diabetic foot to develop. Therefore, most patients with diabetic foot do not feel pain. However, if the neuropathy is relatively mild or is a painful neuropathy, these patients may feel pain in their feet or at the site of skin ulceration.

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Early symptoms of diabetic foot

The initial symptoms of diabetic foot mainly manifest in several aspects. The first symptom is abnormal sensations in the feet, including numbness, pain, a feeling of foreign objects, or as if stepping on cotton. The second situation involves pain in the feet, intermittent claudication, and even pain at rest. If these symptoms occur, it is advised to promptly visit an endocrinology specialist. Treatments may include medications for nourishing the nerves and improving circulation in the lower limbs. Without timely treatment, it's easy for wounds on the feet to ulcerate, leading to infection and severe adverse consequences. It is recommended to treat diabetic foot early to prevent the worsening of the condition and even the risk of amputation.