Dubai: Fasting during Ramadan is an opportunity for Type 2 diabetic residents to better manage their weight, according to doctors.
In Type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to use insulin, a hormone necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of entering the body’s cells to be used as energy, it can lead to health complications.
Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Bassam Al Masri, Specialist Internal Medicine, Al Garhoud Private Hospital, said the main issue with Type 2 diabetic patients is obesity. In this context, Ramadan is an opportune time to help patients eat less and reduce their body weight.
In the management of Type 2 diabetes, the fasting phase plays an integral role if done safely, he explained.
To understand the benefits of fasting for Type 2 diabetes patients, Gulf News spoke to Dr Mohammad Shakeel, specialist physician at Aster Medical Centre, Discovery Gardens, Dubai.
“Fasting helps in two areas — weight loss and better control of sugar level. If the person eats a healthy, balanced meal during the non-fasting phase, the body will use the existing fat deposits as a source of energy during the fasting phase, leading to weight loss,” said Dr Shakeel.
By way of caution, Dr Sonia Gupte, General Physician at iCare Clinics, Dubai, told Gulf News it is essential that patients receive the necessary education related to physical activity, meal planning, glucose monitoring, dosage and timing of medications, and management of complications.
The risk associated with fasting is quite low among patients with Type 2 diabetes who are well controlled with diet alone, said Dr Gupte. “However, there is still a risk for occurrence of postprandial hyperglycaemia [high blood sugar] after the predawn and sunset meals if patients overindulge in eating. To prevent this, patients should distribute calories over two to three smaller meals during the non-fasting interval.”
She added, “Hypoglycaemia [low blood sugar] may also occur in patients with Type 2 diabetes but generally less frequently and with less severe consequences compared with patients with Type 1 diabetes.”
Type 2 diabetic patient Asad Khan, a Pakistani manager in the entertainment industry in Dubai, spoke to Gulf News about his experience of fasting during Ramadan.
Khan was diagnosed 10 years ago. He said his condition did not deter him from fasting, and he continues to fast as a religious obligation. “I am now in my 50s and do not plan to stop fasting due to my condition. I am aware that if I feel giddy or experience any warning signs, I should break my fast. This hasn’t happened to me.”
