The holy month of Ramadan is being celebrated with full fervour, and we are right in the middle of it now. There is a significant number of days of fasting still left, which can be challenging for many people, especially those who have health issues.
One such health issue that could be exacerbated by continuous fasting, and that hugely relies on your meal timings, is diabetes. Managing diabetes during fasting requires careful planning and adherence to certain precautions to ensure good health throughout the month. According to the organisation Diabetes UK, if you have diabetes and do not manage it seriously, you are at risk of conditions like hypo (caused by low blood sugar), or diabetic ketoacidosis (caused by high blood sugar), both of which require hospital treatment.
Talking to the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr B M Makkar, Director, Dr Makkar’s Diabetes and Obesity Centre, New Delhi, and Immediate Past President, Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India, shared some important precautions that diabetics should take while practising Ramadan fasting.
How To Manage Diabetes During Ramadan
“We don’t say you should not keep the Ramadan fast at all if you have diabetes.” That’s how Dr Makkar began his advisory, clarifying that it is important that we know that managing diabetes while fasting of any kind is a difficult task. He advised four important steps that all of us must be aware of, even if we don’t fall into the subset where diabetes and fasting collide. Someone around us could belong to this subset and a keen observer could help them take care of their health.
Know Your Diabetes Status
“The first and most important thing is that you should know about the status of your diabetes when the fasting season is about to begin,” recommended Dr Makkar. That means you should keep a keen eye on how well your sugar levels are in control.
“Before you begin the fast, meet your doctor and try to learn whether fasting along with diabetes could increase any health risks for you,” he added.
Changes In Medications and Insulin
If your doctor gives you the clean chit for fasting, then you will probably be recommended a change in your prescribed medication and insulin, especially the timings at which you have to take them. This is because your eating pattern will change during fasting.
“The whole day you don’t eat anything. In the morning there is Sehri, which is the pre-dawn mean. After that, you fast the whole day and then eat straightaway at night. So we have to change the timing of the medications accordingly, and some medicines also get changed. Similarly, insulin’s dose will be modified accordingly.”
Monitor Blood Sugar
“The third most important thing is that you have to monitor your blood sugar levels consistently, throughout the day,” stressed Dr Makkar. “If you don’t check your sugar you will never get to know how well it is in control while fasting. If you don’t eat anything for longer periods, there is a risk your blood sugar will get dangerously low, which is an emergency,” he added.
That is why you must monitor your blood glucose levels regularly. Check your blood sugar before suhoor (pre-dawn meal), iftar (meal at sunset), and before bedtime. According to Diabetes UK, you can follow these steps, especially if you have diabetes, to make sure your blood sugar is in control:
- Plan balanced meals for suhoor and iftar that include complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fibre-rich foods. Opt for whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lean meats or plant-based proteins.
- Avoid sugary and high-fat foods that can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels.
- Drink plenty of water between Iftar and Suhoor to stay hydrated. Avoid caffeinated and sugary beverages, as they can lead to dehydration and fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
Know The Symptoms Of Low Blood Sugar
Finally, Dr Makkar underscored the need to educate ourselves about the symptoms of low blood sugar. Since the Ramadan fast is essentially a type of intermittent fasting where you don’t eat anything for long periods, there is a huge chance your blood sugar levels will dip. “If you notice these symptoms then you must check your blood sugar immediately,” suggested Dr Makkar.
According to the National Health Service of the UK, these signs mean you have low blood sugar:
- Sweating
- Shakiness
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Hunger pangs
- Feeling anxious or irritable
- Tingling lips
- Heart palpitations
- Weakness
- Blurred vision
- Seizures and fainting if the blood sugar gets extremely low
“In that case, if it is necessary to break the fast, then you must do that. Because if you keep the fast still, then you can faint and might have to seek emergency intervention. Low sugar is always an eminent emergency. It is not to be neglected. You have to treat it immediately,” Dr Makkar strongly opinionated.
Also Read: How To Prioritise Your Mental Health In The Workplace During Ramadan Fasting
In the end, Dr Makkar’s advisory highlights why you need to listen to your body and not ignore what it is telling you about your health. The signs are always there, you just need to be able to read them and not take them for granted. By following these precautions and maintaining open communication with your healthcare provider, you can successfully observe Ramadan fasting, even if you have diabetes. Remember that prioritising health and safety is paramount, even for religious practices as you can be fully dedicated to your faith, only if you keep your health in check.