Fasting made simple for diabetics during the holy month of Ramadan
KUWAIT: Although strictly advised against fasting during Ramadan by doctors, majority of diabetic patients continue fasting during the holy month, exposing themselves to high rate of acute complications like hypoglycaemia and dehydration. To help these patients Novartis has issued safety measures which will create awareness on the precautionary steps, balanced diet and constant monitoring of blood sugar level.
“Fasting has very high chances of adversely affecting diabetic patients because long hours without food and drink can significantly reduce the blood sugar levels leading to complications like unconsciousness, seizures, brain damage and very rarely death. Through a balanced diet plan and strict monitoring of blood sugar level these complications can be avoided,” says Dr Rayaz A Malik, Professor of Medicine & Consultant Physician speaking at a recently held seminar on Diabetes and the fasting population in Ramadan.
“The increased risk of hypoglycemia caused by fasting can be severe and even life threatening for patients with type 2 diabetes. Hence it is absolutely important for patients to follow individualized management plan in consultation with their doctors.” says Dr Monira Al-Arouj, Consultant Diabetologist and Assistant Director of the Dasman Diabetes Institute.
During fasting, the circulating glucose levels in the blood tend to fall due to decreased insulin secretion. For diabetic patients, insulin secretion is severely affected by the disease and prolonged hours of fasting can lead to hypoglycaemia, and dehydration. More than 50 million Muslim patients with type 2 diabetes fast during Ramadan every year, abstaining from food, water and the use of oral medications between dawn and sunset.
Fasting can have important health consequences for type 2 diabetes patients, including up to a seven-fold increased risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) that can result in difficulty in concentrating, coma, seizures and even death. During Ramadan, diabetic patients are also exposed to different food options without knowledge of level of calories or sugar content. Due to prolonged hours of fasting there is a tendency to overeat which can lead to excess sugar level in the blood or hyperglycaemia, if not controlled can lead to organ damage.
Novartis is distributing patient education booklets and glucometers through health clinics to raise awareness on the safety measures. The education booklet has been developed in consultation with medical professionals. Here are some of safety measures from the booklet:
* Consult your doctor a few weeks before Ramadan to come up with an individualized management plan
* Monitor your blood glucose level frequently, multiple times a day. If the glucose levels are noticed to be very low, break the fast immediately
* It is very important to maintain constant body weight throughout Ramadan and that can take place only through a balanced diet. Tips for a balanced diet:
1. Eat more vegetables and fruits; choose colored variety, non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, carrots, broccoli or green kidney beans your meals.
2. Choose the whole grain foods instead of processed grains; choose the wheat macaroni or the brown rice instead of white rice.
3. Use the liquid oils in cooking instead of solid fats. Solid fats are high saturated. Remember that fats are high calories.
4. Choose the beef slices; to reduce the fat ratio you eat, remove the fat skin of chicken or turkey.
5. Choose products of non-fat milk such as non-fat milk, non-fat yogurt, non-fat cheese.
6. Drink water or diet drinks free from calories, have a little normal soda and fruit juices, sweetened tea and other drinks sweetened with sugar.
7. In your meals, eat the dried kidney beans and lentil. Kidney beans and lentil contain high ratio of protein and low ratios of fats.
8. Stay away from snacks and high calorie sweets. Eat a little of food containing high fats and sweets such as chips, biscuit, cake and ice cream.
-KT *************************************************************************
