Hyderabad: To maintain a balance between religious practice and medical condition, especially in the case of diabetes where fasting for more than 12 hours affects the blood glucose levels of the body, it is important to take precautionary measures to avoid an emergency.
Long hours of fasting require a change of medication and also a healthy dietary plan during the fasting season. This is because long hours of extensive fasting during the day and indulgent feasting in the evening tend to take a toll on a diabetic.
Dr Faraz Farishtey, consultant endocrinologist explained, “Potential health hazards for a diabetic are hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, dehydration and acute metabolic complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis. These conditions arise as the body goes through long hours of fasting and the stored glucose is used first and the body fats used later. For diabetic patients, the levels of their blood glucose need to be maintained. It is found that if blood glucose levels drop too low and medications are not changed, it leads to complications.”
During fasting in Ramzan, the first meal of the day is taken at dawn and by late afternoon, it is found that glucose levels deplete. This leads to ketogenesis. In practice, most patients who take their first meal at dawn are in a state of glycogen depletion by late afternoon, at which point ketogenesis occurs. If a meal is further skipped it leads to depletion of glycogen stores and ketosis occurs. This needs to be managed with medication so that during the break of fast, levels do not shoot up too high.
Dr G Srinivas, senior endocrinologist explai-ned, “Indulging in feasting with high fat foods, thick and rich gravies and also packed juices is not good during these times for diabetics. Meals have to be well balanced and the release of energy from the body has to be slow.”
Experts state that people must opt for fruits, salads, vegetables and more of carbohydrates and less of proteins.
Dr Ravi Muppidi, senior endocrinologist explained, “It is important to choose healthy options while breaking fast, regular monitoring of sugar at home with a glucometer, and learning to identify symptoms of high or low sugars is crucial during the fasting season.”
