What should a diabetic patient eat during Ramadan, What should a diabetic patient do during Ramadan, Important tips for diabetic patients during fasting

The preparations for the Holy Ramadan have started a little bit. Because there is not much left before the start of fasting. This is a month of moderation. Adherence is easy for common people, but diabetics face dilemma. They are worried about whether they can fast or whether there are any special precautions for fasting.

Diabetes is a disease that is closely related to diet management and quality of life. A diabetic patient has to follow many rules when it comes to food. Along with that, you have to live a well-regulated and disciplined life.

During Ramadan many changes occur in our normal life. The biggest changes occur in the type of food and the time of eating. However, if certain precautions and rules are followed, a diabetic patient can fast safely.

Based on the level of risk, diabetes patients are divided into 4 categories. These are-

1. Low risk group

2. Moderate risk group

3. High risk group

4. Very high risk group

Low and moderate risk groups include those whose diabetes or blood glucose is under control through diet, medication, or insulin. In addition to diabetes, those who are elderly and suffering from various diseases (affected by kidney disease; suffering from heart attack and stroke; frequent blood glucose decreases and increases; tend to be hypo and hyperglycemic respectively) are included in the high and very high risk groups.

Diabetic patients of low and moderate risk group can fast at the beginning of Ramadan without any complications following the doctor's advice. On the other hand, high and very high risk group patients should fast under the close supervision of a doctor and a nutritionist.

What are the risks of fasting?

Diabetes patients can face several complications during fasting if not careful. For example-

1. Low blood glucose can lead to hypoglycemia, causing the patient to faint.

2. Due to wrong eating habits, the amount of glucose in the blood can increase and become hyperglycemia.

3. May cause keto acidosis or hyperosmolar state.

4. Drinking too little water or fluids can lead to dehydration, as well as thrombosis.

Who is at risk of fasting?

1. Frequent hypo and hyperglycemic diabetic patients.

2. Uncontrolled type-1 and type-2 diabetic patients.

3. Gestational diabetes patients.

4. Elderly diabetic patients.

5. Patients with long-term kidney complications (especially stage 3, 4, 5) or dialysis.

6. Patients with serious infections, cancer, tuberculosis.

7. Those who take more than one insulin a day.

In addition, heart attack, stroke, diabetes patients who do more physical work should be very careful in fasting.

Food Control and Management

The meal schedule changes during the holy month of Ramadan. So naturally the dose and schedule of medication and insulin also varies. If there is any irregularity in this, the blood glucose level can be very low or high. So if a diabetic patient wants to fast, he has to be very careful in food management. What to do in this case is-

1. Food should be taken shortly before the end of Sehri.

2. Try to have red rice rice, red flour bread or chira or oats, milk, banana, fish, meat, vegetables, pulses in Sehri.

3. Avoid excessive fried food, sweet and fatty food at Iftar.

4. Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) can start Iftar with 1 date. Besides, you can eat fruits with low glycemic index, fruit juice, sour yogurt, canned water, chira, a small pressed banana, kebab, bread etc.

5. Diabetic patients should consume enough water and nutritious liquid food to avoid dehydration.

6. At night you can eat light food like soup, red flour bread, fish or meat, oats, chira.

7. Do try to eat red flour rice or roti at Sehri. Keep fish or meat, vegetables, pulses with it. You can have a glass of milk, which will help keep you active throughout the day.

Here is a list of what a diabetic patient should eat for Sehri, Iftar, Dinner in Ramadan:

sehri

Rice – 1 to 1.5 cups

Fish or meat - 1 piece of medium size

Vegetables – 1.5 to 2 cups (except potatoes and sweet pumpkin)

Dal-1 cup (medium thick)

Milk- 1 glass (250 ml).

iftar

Dates – 1 every other day (Avoid dates if you have kidney problems)

Chickpeas - half a cup

Muri - half a cup

Fruits – any sour fruit or fruit juice, canned water

Sour curd - half a cup

Sometimes you can eat 1 cup of home cooked chatpati or haleem.

dinner

Red flour bread – 2 medium size (thin)

Fish or meat - 1 piece (medium size)

Vegetables Mixed vegetables – 1.5 to 2 cups (except sweet pumpkin and potato)

Dal- 1 cup (medium thick).

(Amounts will vary from patient to patient. So a daily diet plan for Ramadan should be prepared as advised by an experienced nutritionist.)

Medicines and insulin

Before starting the fast, the dose and schedule of the medicine should be adjusted in consultation with the doctor. Those who take the medicine should take the morning dose at the beginning of Iftar and the night dose in half half an hour before Sehri. Those who take insulin, take the morning insulin dose before iftar and reduce the night dose half an hour before Sehri as advised by the doctor.

Walking and exercise

It is better not to do excessive walking or any heavy physical work during the day while fasting. Performing 5 daily prayers and Taraweeh prayers with time serves as an alternative to physical exercise during Ramadan.

It is important to remember

1. Never take previous doses of drugs or insulin while fasting

Don't take it. Do not adjust medication or insulin yourself without consulting a doctor. It can be counterproductive.

2. By keeping calories fixed during fasting, only the food ingredients and the time of eating will change.

3. One should refrain from overeating at Iftar and eating less at Sehri.

4. Sehri cannot be fasted without eating or eating little.

5. Every day from 7 am to 7:30 am, 4 pm to 4:30 pm, just before iftar and just 2 hours after iftar, the blood glucose level chart should be made in the glucometer. In case of any abnormality or abnormality in the blood glucose level, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Never give sugar water or anything else by mouth if the blood glucose level drops below 3.9 mmol/L and the patient becomes hypo and unconscious. In this case, the patient should be taken to the hospital immediately.