DOHA: Primary healthcare physicians have advised patients with diabetes who are fasting to check their blood sugar if they show symptoms of hyperglycemia.
According to them, several factors determine the appropriate line of treatment for patients with diabetes and their ability to fast without problems, such as age, weight, nature of work and type of diabetes, among others.
It is recommended that people with diabetes consult their condition with their physician and diabetes educator at health centres to assess their ability to fast.
Diabetes patients are also advised to check their blood sugar, especially between Asr and Maghreb times.
Also, they should divide the total daily amount of food to two main meals, fotor and sohoor, and a light meal in between.
The sohoor meal should be eaten as late as possible, just before Fajr adhan. Following these recommendations, diabetics can continue their daily activities as usual and preferably rest in the afternoon.
In addition, primary healthcare physicians recommend drinking more fluid at the time of fotor and avoid eating large amount of food, especially sweets or sweetened liquid. If a patient notices a drop in glucose level, he or she must eat immediately, even shortly before sunset.
A General Practitioner at Madinat Khalifa Health Centre, Dr Abdulhamid Abdulghani, stressed that “it is very important to avoid hyperglycemia. If the patient shows symptoms such as sweating or shivering, he must check his blood sugar level quickly or eat something right away.”
He said that patients should have discussion with their doctors to clarify when they should take medication while they are fasting.
Abdulghani said that people with a blood sugar level of about 500 mg/dl should not fast. However, he clarified that most diabetics are able to fast but should monitor their blood sugar level regularly.
Symptoms of low blood sugar include weakness, sweating, palpitation, dizziness, headache, nervousness, hunger, pale skin and difficulty to concentrate.
Symptoms of high blood sugar are abdominal pain, acetone smell of breath, weight loss, dry skin and mouth, rapid breathing and coma. The Peninsula
