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Your Diet After Surgery

During the first month or two after the surgery, we generally tell patients that they can eat whatever they want without regard to fat intake or salt intake. The reason for this is that most people have some degree of decreased appetite after having anesthesia. Our primary concern during this period is that you eat enough protein and calories to help heal your incisions and bones well.

Anyone who was on any special diet (such as a low-carbohydrate, diabetic, or kidney diet) should continue to follow that diet.

Diabetics can expect their blood sugar to be elevated with the stress of the surgery and hospitalization in general. Remember, however, that the closer your blood sugar is to normal, the faster and more efficiently your wounds will heal.

Weill Cornell Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgery 525 East 68th Street
Box 110
Suite M 404
New York, NY 10065 Directions
Phone: (212) 746-5166