Stating that people who fast during the month of Ramadan are fed as two main meals, Uzm. Dr. Mustafa Köse said, “While slow-absorbing foods are generally preferred in sahur, foods with high calorie content are consumed at the end of a long fasting period. For this reason, fasting and eating two main meals and using sugar pills, insulin and many other drugs together bring many risks while fasting. These risks are the most important 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
Talking about the relationship between fasting and diabetes, Uzm. Dr. Köse said, “All diabetic patients who want to fast in Ramadan should get information from their doctor about whether they can fast 1-2 months before Ramadan. Each patient is informed differently by his doctor according to the duration and severity of the disease. While very high-risk patients are not allowed to fast, it is okay for low-risk patients to fast. Those who experience intense hypoglycemia during the treatment, those who are not aware of hypoglycemia, 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 work physically intensively, those who are pregnant, those who have advanced kidney disease. Patients with diabetes mellitus and advanced diabetes mellitus, kidney and eye disorders are high-risk patients. Fasting in Ramadan causes serious problems for these patients. Fasting is strictly not recommended. If they do, they will have life-threatening problems,” he said.
Mentioning that some individuals can fast, Uzm. Dr. Köse said, “However, people who use some sugar pills and whose sugar is under control are allowed to fast with the advice of the doctor individually. Changing the drugs, reducing the doses and changing the drugs according to sahur and iftar are arranged by the doctor for the patients who are allowed to fast. During Ramadan, the doctor prefers drugs that do not reduce sugar to the patient. It is okay for these people to fast during Ramadan. In fact, some studies have shown that the sugar control of these patients was better during Ramadan.
“PATIENTS AT RISK MUST 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 who use insulin. The doctor can adjust the doses of the pills and insulins they are using to these patients so that they pose less risk during the fasting period.
Stating that patients who are allowed to fast should avoid carbohydrates and rich oily foods at iftar, Uzm. Dr. Köse said, “He should consume plenty of liquids, provided that it is sugar-free. Consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is supported. People with diabetes who are fasting should consult a doctor if they have complaints about low sugar (nausea, tremors, palpitations, dizziness, clouding of consciousness) and should not fast. In the absence of these complaints, if their blood sugar drops below 70, they should not fast again. “People who fast during Ramadan should avoid excessive physical activity, as they will experience the risk of low blood sugar close to iftar,” he said.
(UAV)