Wound healing is a metabolic process that demands increased nutritional support beyond baseline dietary needs. When skin integrity is compromised — through surgical wounds, pressure injuries, diabetic ulcers, or trauma — the body enters an accelerated phase of tissue repair that requires both macronutrients and micronutrients in specific quantities.
Adequate nutrition directly influences the rate and quality of healing, while malnutrition can prolong the inflammatory phase, compromise collagen synthesis, and increase infection risk. For individuals with chronic wounds, calorie requirements may increase by up to 50 percent, and protein requirements may increase substantially to maintain lean body mass and support tissue regeneration.
Individuals with diabetes demonstrate higher rates of micronutrient deficiencies and poor overall diet quality, both of which impair healing capacity. Medical Nutrition Therapy delivered by a Registered Dietitian addresses these wound-specific nutrient needs and the underlying metabolic conditions that influence healing.