Diabetes patients asked to take extra care during fasting

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ISLAMABAD: Health experts on Tuesday said that people with diabetes should take extra care while observing fasting to manage their blood glucose level.

According to them, with adopting this practice patients can avoid any unpleasant situation during the holy month of Ramzan and will remain healthy.

Dr Wasim Khawaja from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said that patients can encounter some serious health issues while fasting such as an extreme increase or decrease in blood sugar level, lower water level in the body and some serious threats to diabetic children, pregnant women, and heart and kidney patients.

He was of the view that frequent disturbance in diabetes may harm one’s health permanently. He also guided the patients on how to adjust insulin during Ramzan fasting.

A public health expert Dr Sobia Faisal advised the patients to choose water or drink sugar free and caffeine free drinks frequently throughout the evening and before dawn.

She added suhoor meal should contain a balance of whole grain sources of complex carbohydrates as well as some protein from lean sources of meat, fish and poultry, small amounts of heart healthy fats while limit added sugars will slow the digestion and the feeling of fullness last as long as possible into the day.

She also advised fresh fruits, vegetables, and yoghurt in meals and asked to use two or three dates. She also asked to avoid exercise during the day, and take rest when possible to help avoid lowering of blood glucose levels.