Advice for diabetics during Ramadan
Assume that people who fast during the month of Ramadan are fed as two main meals, Uzm. Dr Köse said: “While slow absorbing foods are generally preferred in sahur, foods with a high calorie content are consumed at the end of a long period of fasting. For this reason, fasting and eating two main meals and the Using sugar pills, insulin and many other drugs together carries many risks during fasting.These risks are the main consequences of low sugar, high sugar, sugar coma and the formation of clots in different parts of the body due to thirst.
Patients at risk of fasting
Speaking of the relationship between fasting and diabetes, Uzm. Dr Köse said: “All diabetic patients who want to fast during Ramadan should get information from their doctor about whether they can fast for 1-2 months before Ramadan. Each patient is informed differently by their doctor, depending on the duration and severity of the illness. While very high-risk patients should not fast, low-risk patients are allowed to fast. Those who experience intense hypoglycaemia during treatment, those who are unaware of hypoglycaemia, those who experience a diabetic coma in the 3 months before Ramadan, those with type 1 diabetes, those who experience a coma due to high sugar levels in the 3 months before Ramadan, those who do physical intensive work, those who are pregnant, those with advanced kidney disease Patients with diabetes mellitus and advanced diabetes mellitus, kidney and eye diseases are patients at risk. Fasting during Ramadan causes serious problems for these patients. Fasting is strictly discouraged. If they do, they will have life-threatening problems,” he said.
Mentioning that some people can fast, Uzm. Dr Köse said: “However, people on sugar pills whose sugar is under control may fast on the advice of the individual doctor. Changing medicines, lowering the dosage and switching medicines according to sahur and iftar are arranged by the doctor for the patients who are allowed to fast. During Ramadan, the doctor prefers medicines that do not give the patient sugar. It is okay for these people to fast during Ramadan. Some studies have even shown that these patients’ sugar control was better during Ramadan.
“At risk patients should definitely consult their doctor”
Emphasizing that there are many patients who insist on fasting despite being risky, Dr. Dr Köse said: “These patients should definitely get information from their doctor about how to fast. This is especially important for those taking insulin. The doctor can adjust the dosage of the pills and insulins they use for these patients so that they are less at risk during the fasting period.
Stating that patients who are allowed to fast should avoid carbohydrates and rich fatty foods at iftar, Uzm. Dr Köse said: ‘He has to drink a lot, provided it is sugar free. The consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables is supported. People with diabetes who are fasting should consult a doctor if they have complaints of low sugar (nausea, tremors, palpitations, dizziness, clouding of consciousness) and should not fast. In the absence of these complaints and if their blood sugar drops below 70, they are no longer allowed to fast. “People fasting during Ramadan should avoid excessive physical activity, as they will experience the risk of low blood sugar near iftar,” he said.