| 18 Aug 2010 |
|
Fasting and Chronic Illnesses
- Text size
How Patients with Diabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses Deal With Fasting During Ramadan
Dr. Mohamad Milad is an Internal Medicine specialist in the Diabetes Clinic at Al Khor Hospital (AKH), which is one of Hamad Medical Corporation's hospitals. He was asked to elaborate on whether diabetic patients can fast.
The body of a fasting person normally manages to obtain necessary energy through metabolism of stored carbohydrates, fats and proteins. This leads to an increase in the ketone bodies, which are chemicals the body produces when there is not enough insulin in the blood and it must break down fat instead of the sugar glucose for energy. The healthy body can easily dispose of these ketone bodies, which are toxic acidic chemicals, usually without any negative effects simply through urine discharge. However, for diabetic persons, the metabolization of carbohydrates, fats and proteins is not an efficient process and this may lead to dangerously highly level of ketonic acids accumulating in the body. Particularly in case of insulin dependant diabetics who need to take regular insulin, the level of toxins can increase too high if they fast. Non-insulin dependant diabetics, however, may find fasting of great benefit, as the fat burning process associated with fasting will keep their body healthier.
Dr. Milad explained: "Diabetics should seek qualified medical advice before fasting. Patients with type 1 diabetes (insulin dependant diabetes) who suffer recurrent attacks of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, diabetics who use insulin pump, diabetics who need three or more doses of insulin each day, and diabetics who have experienced diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) within the last three month (DKA results from dehydration during a state of relative insulin deficiency, associated with high blood levels of sugar level and organic acids called ketones) should probably not fast - especially where a diabetic live alone and might suffer a hypoglycemic attack without anyone to help in a life-threatening situation. Diabetics with severe diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, stroke, or coronary thrombosis are adviced to avoid fasting, in addition to a pregnant or lactating diabetic". Dr. Milad added that patients with type 1 diabetes with controlled blood sugar level (where HbA1C is less than 7%), who haven't suffered diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or recurrent attacks of hypoglycemia during the last 3 months may be able to fast, but should so with great care.
Furthermore, Dr. Milad outlined that patients with type 2 diabetes who sustain some health complications are advised not to fast. These include patients with diabetic nephropathy associated with high creatinine, severe diabetic retinopathy, hypoglycemic unawareness, stroke or coronary thrombosis, in addition to type 2 diabetics who take more than two doses of insulin a day, have sustained high levels of blood sugar during last few weeks before Ramadan, and any pregnant or lactating type 2 diabetics. He added that a diabetic suffering another disease such as severe gastric ulcer, nephrolith or cancer is advised to avoid fasting.
"Fasting diabetics should not skip the Sahour meal or do physical exercises during the daytime as that may cause a significant drop in sugar levels. They are also advised to take their medications, whether insulin or tablets, directly after sunset. When a diabetic feels signs of low blood sugar he should immediately take a glass of juice, liquid solution or two spoonfuls of honey, and then take a meal."
"Never try to continue fasting while you feel your blood sugar drop significantly," said Dr. Miad, adding that blood sugar should be tested tree times a day also during Ramadan, using a home blood glucose monitor; two hours after Sahour meal, one hour before Iftar meal to detect any drop in the blood sugar level and two hours after the Iftar meal to check whether there is any rise in the blood sugar level.
Dr. Milad highlighted the prevalence of diabetes and related health complications in the Gulf region, referring to a study conducted in the UAE on diabetics with signs of renal complications. The study showed that 61% of patients are discovered to have albumin in urine, which is a real indication of deterioration in the health condition of the kidneys.
-Ends-
About HMC:
Hamad Medical Corporation is the premier non-profit health care provider in Doha, Qatar. It was established by Emiri decree in 1979 and manages five highly specialized hospitals, namely, Hamad General Hospital, Rumaila Hospital, Women's Hospital, Al Amal Hospital and Al Khor Hospital. Since its establishment, HMC has rapidly developed medical facilities capable of providing state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of diseases that previously could only be managed in overseas medical centers.
HMC prides itself in providing quality and cost efficient health care for all patients regardless of nationality, in line with the State of Qatar's pledge of "Health for All". For this purpose, the Corporation implements a policy of continuous improvement of all management systems and patient care protocols. HMC's ethos is based on three key pillars which are Health, Education and Research.
Marketing and Public Relations Department
Hamad Medical Corporation
Tel. No.: +974 439 6126
Fax No.: +974 439 5002
© Press Release 2010
Zawya is a distributor (and not a publisher) of content supplied by third parties and subscribers. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, or other information or content expressed or made available by those third parties, including information providers, subscribers or other users of the Service, are those of the respective author(s) or distributor(s) and not of the Company. The Company neither endorses nor is responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, advice or statement made on the Service by anyone other than authorized Service employee spokespersons while acting in their official capacities. The Company is not responsible for any infringement of intellectual property rights or breach of any applicable law or regulation, including regulation in relation to financial services or the distribution of financial products, defamation, data protection, telecommunications (including regulations relating to excessive use, spamming or other abusive activities) or obscene, offensive or illegal content). Under no circumstances will the Company be liable for any loss or damage caused by a member's reliance on information obtained through the Service. It is the responsibility of member to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice or other content available through the Service. Please seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding the evaluation of any specific information, opinion, advice or other content.
Read the full Member Agreement
http://www.zawya.com/legal/NewsLetter.cfm?name=disclaimer
Post a Comment
1.1 Contain any material which is libelous or defamatory of any person, is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory or causes damage to the reputation of any person or organisation.
1.2 Promote sexually explicit material, violence, discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age or any illegal activity.
1.3 Be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence.
1.4 Be threatening, abuse or invade another's privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
1.5 Be used to impersonate any person, to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person, or be likely to deceive any person.
1.6 Give the impression that they represent Zawya.
1.7 Advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.