As the eating pattern changes for those who fast with the month of Ramadan, this order will change again with the Eid al-Fitr. The body may not be able to adapt to this variability immediately. Experts warned about excessive sweet consumption, especially before Eid al-Fitr.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYE HEALTH
Stating that excessive consumption of sweets during Ramadan Feast will affect eye health, Assoc. Dr. Selim Bölükbaşı gave information about the points that diabetes patients should pay attention to during this period. Bölükbaşı said, “Especially diabetic patients are at risk of diabetic retinopathy due to excessive sugar consumption during Ramadan Feast. Diabetic retinopathy is a chronic disease that causes irreversible and severe damage to the retina. It can even result in blindness in some diabetic patients.
PATIENTS WITH DIABETES ARE AT RISK
Drawing attention to the negative effects that may occur on the eyes, especially during the festive period when sugar and sweet consumption increases, Assoc. Dr. Selim Bölükbaşı stated that diabetes occurs as a result of insufficient insulin secretion or its effect, and that it increases with intense consumption of sugar. Bölükbaşı said, “Patients with diabetes are at much higher risk. The holiday is ahead, people will come together and there will be a lot of carbohydrate consumption. In particular, carbohydrates such as cakes, pastries, and baklava, which we call simple sugars, that can mix into the blood very quickly, will increase blood sugar instantly. It will damage all systems, but the eye will be one of the most affected organs. For this reason, people should pay more attention to their nutrition, especially during periods such as holidays.
“CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR IN PERIODS LIKE HOLIDAYS”
Stating that diabetic retinopathy, which threatens diabetes patients, begins with the deterioration of blood sugar, Bölükbaşı said, “Since blood sugar deteriorates, the nutrition of the retina begins to deteriorate. Then, many pathologies such as hemorrhages on the retinal surface, fat deposits, edema in the visual center and even new vessel formations on the retinal surface develop. In the future, sudden bleeding may occur in the eye, and diabetic retinopathy can sometimes result in blindness.
DIABETES AFFECTS ALL ORGANS
Emphasizing that diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all organs, Bölükbaşı said:
“Diabetes can cause serious harm to people, as well as very serious damage to the eyes. Patients with diabetes are at much higher risk. The holiday is ahead, people will come together and there will be a lot of carbohydrate consumption. In particular, carbohydrates that we do not like very much and that we call simple sugars such as cakes, pastries, baklava, which can mix with the blood very quickly, will increase blood sugar suddenly. It will damage all systems. However, the eye is one of the most affected organs in such a situation. A disease that can cause serious damage to the eye, which we call diabetic retinopathy, will occur. For this reason, people need to pay more attention to sugar consumption, especially during the holidays.”
Making a special call to diabetes patients for the holiday, Assoc. Dr. Selim Bölükbaşı advised them to limit sugar use, act, stay away from simple sugars and try to live well. (DHA)