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 Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
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Is it good for people with diabetes to soak their feet?

Whether soaking the feet is beneficial for diabetic foot or not first depends on whether there are any wounds on the feet. If it is a grade 0 diabetic foot, where the diabetic only experiences abnormal sensations, numbness, or pain in the foot without any wound, then soaking the feet is permissible. However, it is crucial to be mindful of the water temperature during soaking; it generally should not exceed 40°C to avoid burns. If the diabetic foot has open wounds, foot soaking is not recommended. Soaking feet with wounds can easily lead to increased infection of the wounds.

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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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Written by Zhao Xin Lan
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Diabetic foot VSD (Vacuum Sealing Drainage) nursing key points

If you have diabetic foot, it is necessary to check the condition of your feet every day. When washing your feet daily, observe the color and shape of the feet, whether there is any skin damage, and whether there are changes in local color. Secondly, more professionally, you can feel the pulsation of the dorsal artery of the foot to see if it is normal. Third, insist on washing your feet daily to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. Be careful that the water temperature for soaking should not be too high, preferably not exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, and do not soak for more than 30 minutes. Additionally, trimming nails is very important. Do not tear them with your hands to avoid damaging the skin of your feet; use scissors to cut long nails. Another important aspect is shoe wearing. It is best to wear loose-fitting shoes to avoid rubbing against the feet and breaking the skin.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong
Endocrinology
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The precursor of diabetic foot

Diabetic foot is commonly seen in patients who have had diabetes for over ten years, often due to poor blood sugar control and inadequate care. There are three factors that lead to diabetic foot. The first is vascular factors, often accompanied by arterial stenosis in both lower limbs, leading to blood supply disorders. The second is neuropathy, accompanied by peripheral neuropathy, insensitivity to temperature and pain, which makes it easy to suffer burns and external injuries to the foot. The third factor is the presence of an infectious trigger. When these three factors combine, the risk of diabetic foot becomes very high.

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Written by Yang Li
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Care of diabetic foot wounds

In terms of caring for diabetic foot wounds, medical treatment, surgical intervention, or debridement is of course necessary. Regarding foot care, it's important to examine the condition of the wound. The primary principle is first, in dietary care, to ensure a high protein diet under the allowance of liver and kidney functions, and then a low-fat diet. It's important to include high-quality protein, which is beneficial for wound healing. Locally, the wound area must be kept clean and dry. It is crucial to maintain a concept of sterility, avoiding actions like breathing over the wound with the mouth or touching the wound area with hands. The wound should be cleaned or locally disinfected regularly every day. Additionally, foot wounds in diabetics should slightly elevate the feet to facilitate blood return. Moreover, regular observations of changes in the wound should be made and communicated timely to the doctors at the hospital.