Senior consultants at Shifa International Hospital (SIH) urged people with diabetes to take extra care to manage their blood glucose levels in order to avoid health problems while fasting during the month of Ramadan. The consultants said this while addressing a seminar titled Diabetes and Ramadan, organized by SIH on Saturday, in order to give guidelines to diabetics about how to fast while maintaining their blood glucose level.
SIH’s Consultant Endocrinologist, Dr. Usama Ali Ishtiaq, consultant Nutritionist Dr.Rezzan Khan and Senoior Manager Religious Affairs (SIH) Azmattulah Qureshi were the main speakers at the seminar.
Dr Ishtiaq informed the audience that it was not possible to absolutely maintain blood glucose levels while fasting. He highlighted the fact that patients can face serious incidences of sharp increases or decreases in blood sugar level while fasting, as well as other problems like drops in the water level of the body. Dr Ishtiaq added that the danger increased manifold in the case of diabetic children, diabetic pregnant women and diabetic heart and kidney patients. He also warned that frequent changes in blood sugar level could lead to permanent complications. However, Dr Istiaq also pointed out that a research carried out on 12247 diabetic patients in fifteen countries showed that over half of them observed fast during Ramadan without significantly altering their diet and exercise schedules.
Dr Khan observed that fasting slows down the metabolism so the body starts consuming calories. “It also lowers blood glucose and systolic blood pressure,” she added. She advised patients to improve their nutritional status during fasting and also to do their best to prevent complications, “Drug doses could be adjusted according to diet,” she suggested.
Mr. Qureshi, while pointing out the importance of fasting in Islam, informed the audience that some health practices do not break the fast, such as using injections and inhalers and donating blood. He also said that there was no excuse for not observing fasts over minor diseases like flu or fever but in serious cases, Islam exempts the sufferer from the duty of fasting, but due compensation (fidya) must be given.
