Ramadan 2024: What Doctor Suggests Diabetes Patients Observing Roza

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and has a special significance in Islam. As per the beliefs of the Muslims, in this month, the first verses of the Quran – Islam’s holy book – were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Ramadan started on March 11 and will last till April 9 and the Muslims observe the fast named Roza to establish a closer connection with divinity, Allah.

As per the holy Quran, it is not compulsory for people suffering from health ailments to observe the fast. They, however, can do so despite suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes and blood sugar levels by following some tips. A doctor from the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College named Dr Sheelu Shafiq Siddiqi talked about these tips in a conversation with Local18 Uttar Pradesh.

1. Diabetic patients must check their blood sugar levels before observing the fast during Ramadan.

2. Dehydration is a common health problem faced by devotees during fasting which can turn into a serious risk especially faced by diabetic patients. In this situation, it is advised for the devotees to consume enough lemon water, buttermilk, coconut water, melon, and fresh fruit juice with low sugar and rose syrup.

3. For type 1 and Type 2 diabetic patients or those who are administered insulin continuously, it is important to monitor their blood glucose at short intervals.’

4. If the patient’s sugar is less than 70 or reaches more than 300 milligrams per deciliter, they should end their fast immediately.

Dr Siddiqi said that in the case of a change in sugar levels during fasting, the patients can suffer from the problem of Hypoglycemia. According to the Mayo Clinic, Hypoglycemia is a condition in which your blood sugar (glucose) level is lower than the standard range. Dr Siddiqi said that in this condition, the patient can faint or have a seizure as well. As per Johns Hopkins Medicine, a seizure is a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity between brain cells that causes temporary abnormalities in muscle tone or movements. The patients can also suffer from the problems of blurred vision and headache.