Dubai: Residents with diabetes, especially type 1, have to exercise restraint when consuming celebratory sweets and snacks during Eid Al Fitr, a top official from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has cautioned.
Dr Hamed Farooqi, Director of the Dubai Diabetes Centre at the DHA, said that emergencies due to very high blood sugar levels are frequent in the days following Eid, a time when high-sugar food and beverages are central to the celebrations.
If a diabetic patient overloads their system with these kinds of food, the resulting high blood sugar can cause serious health complications, he said, speaking to Gulf News.
He explained that the risk of overindulgence in sweets is higher in type 1 diabetics, who are insulin dependent, than type 2. “High blood sugar levels can result in various complications including coma. One should watch for symptoms like frequent urination, blurry vision, low concentration and nausea.”
After a month of fasting and monitoring blood sugar levels regularly, a type 1 patient may be under the false notion that he or she can overindulge, he said.
Control
“In most cases, the insulin dosage is modified during Ramadan to deal with the absence of dietary intake for a period of 15 hours as well as the decrease in dietary intake after the fasting period. When the same dosage is administered after Eid and the body consumes more high-sugar food, it could lead to high blood sugar. In type 2 patients as well high blood sugar poses a risk, but not as serious as those with type 1.”
Dr Farooqi advised diabetic patients to return to their pre-Ramadan lifestyle, paying attention to diet and medication. He said it was important to control both the quantity as well as timing of the food.
“Type 1 diabetic patients should consult their doctors to modify their insulin dosage to suit normal dietary patterns. Diabetic patients in general should consider timing, quantity and quality, paying special attention to healthy choices like low sugar and salt.”
