Can a low-protein diet reduce knee pain?

Question

Hello doctor,

My sister is 28 years old. Recently, she got knee pain. She is also a diabetic patient and taking medications for it. Her doctor advised her to take low-protein foods to reduce this knee pain. May I know the cause of this knee pain? Why did her doctor advise her to take a low-protein diet? May I get a diet chart that only includes low-protein foods to support her health?

Please suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I understand your concern.

If her diabetic profile is under control in terms of HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) then there is no problem, but the doctor asked to reduce protein intake with knee pain which might be uric acid levels on the higher side or some other dysfunction. Do check for your blood reports once and ask your physician again.

So now we need to focus on food which does affect her diabetes but low protein too.

Daily intake of tea or coffee should not be more than two cups as it causes dehydration.
Two cups of split grain (thin consistency) can be taken. Restrict the intake of whole pulses.
Low-fat dairy products like milk, cottage cheese, and yogurt are allowed.
All vegetables like potatoes, methi, carrots, capsicum, onion, tomato, cabbage, lettuce, and green vegetables are allowed.
Fruits like apple, sweet lime, papaya, jamun, watermelon, guava, orange. Vitamin C may help lower uric acid levels.
Increased consumption of cherries also helps in bringing uric acid down.
Vegetable oil intake - two to three teaspoons.
Consume broken wheat, ragi, jowar, bajra over oats. All enriched breads, cereals, rice, noodles, pasta, and potatoes.
Drinking 8 to 12 cups of minimum fluid every day is a must. Lemon water helps in flushing uric acid and thus should be sipped on.
Avoid foods such as white bread, cakes, candy, sugar-sweetened beverages, and products with high-fructose corn syrup.
High-purine vegetables, such as asparagus, spinach, peas, cauliflower, or mushrooms should be restricted.
Beer increases the production of uric acid and thus should be strictly avoided.
Yeast-containing foods should be avoided.
Avoid high-fat dairy products and desserts.
Avoid the following types of seafood, which are higher in purines than others: anchovies, herring, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout, haddock, mackerel, and tuna.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.