People with diabetes may face many challenges in fasting in the month of Ramadan. Those who have early diabetes and which is well controlled with small doses of medicines, can fast safely, says Dr. Arun Kumar C. Singh, Director – Endocrinology & Diabetology, Metro Hospital, Noida.
But those people who have advanced disease, who are taking multiple medicines, including insulin or any other medicines such as sulfonylureas which can cause episodes of low sugar, or those people who have significant medical comorbidities like heart disease or kidney disease, liver disease, fasting for them may not be a very safe option and they need to be more prepared to avoid any complications or risk of fasting, adds Dr. Singh.
It’s always better to discuss the desired change in the treatment plan before you start fast, Before you start fast, or ask your doctor whether fasting is safe for you or not. So there is risk of glucose levels going up and down. Risk is there both of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia for people with type 2 diabetes because there’s very long fasting starting from early morning to the evening when the glucose levels can go down. If people are using insulin or sulfonylureas and if the meal choices are not right, then there will be risk of sugar levels going very high in the night time if people eat meal with the high carbohydrates or sugary fruits and juices, etc. So to avoid these fluctuations, plan your meals accordingly, suggests the expert and recommends discussing the treatment plan, appropriate changes, the timing of the medicines, if anything needs to be changed during the days of fast and stick to non sugary fluids to keep yourself hydrated.