Expert: Pete Eiden - 9/7/2004

Question
My father had a heart attack two weeks ago, he was hospitalised & had Engioplsty. He is also a diabetes patient. Now he is back home. I would like to know that what will be his appropriate diet being a cardiac & diabetes patient?

Answer
Thanks for the question.  When your father was discharged from the hospital he should have had a meeting with a dietician, who working with his physician would recommend a diet for his specific case.  If he did not recieve that care call up his doctor and demand it.  You can find more information about the various diets that would be beneficial to him at www.eatright.org.  I can only say that most heart patients have prescribed sodium intake levels between 500 and 2000mg daily.  It varies depending on many factors.

thanks,

Pete