https://mothership.sg/2025/09/china-man-drinks-3-coke-daily-leg-almost-amputated/

Man in China, 31, who drank up to 3 cans of Coke daily, nearly has leg amputated

His treatment lasted 27 days.

Chloe Loh

September 14, 2025, 07:21 PM

A 31-year-old man in Guangzhou, China, almost required a leg amputation after consuming too much sweetened drinks for a prolonged period.

The man, surnamed Wu, had been fond of sweetened drinks since young.

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Drinking three cans of Coke a day was common for him, Guangzhou Daily reported.

Despite developing high uric acid levels and gout since the age of 20, he chose to ignore his condition.

Over time, gout progressed into tophi, which are visible lumps caused by the long-term build up of uric acid crystals, in his joints.

Wu said that the tophi did not cause any pain or discomfort that affected his daily life, hence he paid no attention to them.

His right leg was almost amputated

Recently, the tophi in Wu's hands and right foot suddenly ruptured, causing painful ulcers, according to Guangzhou Daily.

His condition worsened when the bone in his right toe broke through the skin, and was complicated with necrotising fasciitis, commonly known as a flesh-eating disease.

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He was rushed to Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital's Centre for the Treatment of Rare and Difficult Wounds, where he was admitted for emergency treatment.

Necrotising fasciitis is a rare bacterial infection that can be life threatening. Therefore, Wu faced the possibility of losing his right foot.

After undergoing a surgery and treatment for 27 days, doctors were able to save his right foot without an amputation.

According to Guangzhou Daily, the treatment involved the effective management of bacterial infection, tophi removal and strict dieting to reduce the level of uric acids in Wu's body.

According to National University Health System (NUHS), gout, which is caused by excess uric acid in the blood, is a chronic disease characterised by recurrent episodes of painful arthritis. Gout attacks usually begin in the lower limbs, with joints suddenly becoming red, swollen and tender.

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In its early stages, gout usually affects only one joint, but as the disease progresses, it can involve multiple joints, including those in the upper limbs.

Top photos via Canva, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital