Karachi The majority of diabetes patients can observe fasting during Ramazan but they should consult their doctors first. Only a small number of patients in advanced stages of their disease were not advised for such practice. These were the observations made by dialecticians and endocrinologists while addressing an awareness seminar on “Ramzan-ul-Mubarak and Diabetes,” held here on Saturday. The event was organised by the Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman Memorial Society (MKRMS) in collaboration with the Pakistan Endocrine Society (PEC) to create awareness among diabetes patients who want to keep fast. President Pakistan Endocrine Society Dr. Saeed A Mahar said most of the patients diagnosed with diabetes can fast and only a small number of number of them are advised by their consultants and physicians to refrain from fast as it could further deteriorate their health. He said every diabetic patient is different from other on the basis of his or her condition as well as type of disease he is suffering from and added that only a qualified and experienced doctor can advise their patients whether they are fit for fasting or not and what medicines and precautions he or she should adopt during fasting. Dr Mahar maintained that during fasting, patients should frequently monitor their blood sugar level and added that they should not hesitate to break their fast if advised by the doctor. Prof. Dr. Ali Jawa from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Vice President of the Pakistan Endocrine Society deplored that often the diabetes patients alter their medicines without consulting doctors while fasting and when their condition deteriorates, only then they come to see the doctors and on the contrary blame the doctors for their bad condition. He said they have conducted a study on the pattern of other Islamic countries where patients fast despite having certain medical conditions and added that every patient with diabetes was different from the other and he or she should seek advice on the basis of his individual condition from the consultants. According to him, in some diabetics, dehydration can lead to severe kidney problems and renal failure, which could also affect their heart and liver, saying such conditions can be life-threatening. Dr. Najmul Islam from Aga Khan University Hospital informed the gathering that diabetes patients allowed by doctors to eat dates, fruits and other food stuff should exercise with extreme precaution as excessive intake of sugary fruits and diets can cause serious health problems. “If you have been allowed to take a date to break your fast, you should keep it one as per directives from the medical practitioner. Sweet drinks or Sharbat should not be used and instead, plain drinking water with lemon juice and some artificial sweeteners should be used to keep you rehydrated”, he added. He said in summers, Fast duration can be as long as 15 hours and such a long fast without consulting the doctor and physician was not recommended, adding that extreme precautions should be adopted in taking diet and medicines. General Secretary Pakistan Endocrine Society Dr. Qamar Masood said some diabetes patients often don’t want to miss the opportunity of fast but they should also prepare themselves for the holy month by increasing their religious knowledge, awareness and also seek advice from the health experts. Dr. A.H Amir from Postgraduate Medical Institute Peshawar said fasting was obligatory for Muslims but taking care of one’s own life was also very important and Muslims had been asked by the Almighty not to put themselves in danger.
