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World J Diabetes. Jul 15, 2026; 17(7): 121349
Published online Jul 15, 2026. doi: 10.4239/wjd.121349
Published online Jul 15, 2026. doi: 10.4239/wjd.121349
Clinical features of malnutrition in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus-related diabetic foot ulcers: A retrospective study
Su-Hua Wang, Ying Luo, Jing-Bo Lai, Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315040, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Wang SH, Luo Y, and Lai JB performed the data interpretation; Wang SH and Luo Y edited and reviewed the manuscript; Wang SH designed the study; Luo Y performed the data acquisition and analysis; All authors contributed to drafting the manuscript and approved the submitted version.
AI contribution statement: No AI tool was involved in the generation of research data, interpretation of results, or formulation of conclusions.
Institutional review board statement: This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University (Approval No. 2026-024).
Informed consent statement: Ethical considerations were thoroughly addressed, including obtaining an informed consent waiver due to the anonymous nature of the data.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Data sharing statement: Data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Su-Hua Wang, MD, Academic Fellow, Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, No. 251 Baizhang East Road, Ningbo 315040, Zhejiang Province, China. wsh3550@126.com
Received: March 23, 2026
Revised: May 8, 2026
Accepted: June 4, 2026
Published online: July 15, 2026
Processing time: 109 Days and 7 Hours
Revised: May 8, 2026
Accepted: June 4, 2026
Published online: July 15, 2026
Processing time: 109 Days and 7 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Malnutrition is a critical yet underrecognized issue in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus-related diabetic foot ulcers, directly impacting clinical outcomes. In this retrospective study of 268 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus-related diabetic foot ulcers, malnutrition was identified in 35.8% and was independently associated with age > 65 years, serum albumin < 36.6 g/L, hemoglobin < 111.2 g/L, glycated hemoglobin > 7.1%, and multidrug-resistant organisms. Malnourished patients experienced longer hospital stays and lower 60-day wound healing rates. Early nutritional assessment and targeted intervention for these modifiable risk factors are essential to improve prognosis in this high-risk population.