Training initiative allows Type II diabetics to safely fast
40 doctors across 10 countries spread out to teach diabetics how to observe Ramadan
Dubai: A ‘train the trainers’ initiative launched by the Diabetes and Ramadan (DAR) alliance is enabling many people with Type II diabetes to successfully fast during Ramadan with the help of trained doctors, it has been revealed.
DAR with the assistance of global biopharmaceutical firm Sanofi and in alignment with the guidelines of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) launched the initiative with 40 doctors in 10 countries including all six GCC states plus Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The doctors were trained to educate diabetics on the correct and safest ways of observing the fast and the results of the study carried out this year will be presented next year.
The programme was initiated in response to gaps identified by a group of diabetes experts from concerned countries last year.
One of the most important gaps identified was the need to further educate patients and ensure all Health Care Professionals (HCPs) are well trained, by updating and advancing the required educational tools to aid better diabetes management when fasting.
Dr Mohammad Hassanein, chairman of DAR and a consultant endocrinologist at Dubai Hospital told Gulf News: “It is possible for all diabetics, especially those with Type II diabetes to observe fast during Ramadan. We want to ensure they do it the right way while following the guidelines and under the watchful eye of a trained physician.
“Our trained 40 doctors will spread across the region and educate the patients on the right way to fast and each of these doctors will train at least 10 other doctors in their country. If you were to multiply this with the number of diabetic patients each doctor will be able to educate, then you would begin to understand and appreciate the volume and reach of this initiative.
“We have trained these physicians to follow a patient-centric approach and draw up individualised plans based on not just the sugar reading but all other complications that the individual may have related to their eyes, kidneys, heart and other organs.”
According to a 2010 study conducted by DAR it was found that nearly 94.2 per cent Type II diabetics can manage to fast for 15 days and 63.6 per cent for the entire 30 days provided they follow the guidelines.
Which categories of diabetics can fast?
According to Dr Hassanein, DAR has divided Individuals suffering from Type II diabetes who can fast under physicians guidance based on their health risk. They have created red (high risk) amber (medium risk) and green (low risk) categories.
High risk
Medium risk are those:
Low risk who are usually allowed to fast are:
What is HBAIC?
HbA1c or glycated haemoglobin is an indicator of an individual’s blood sugar levels for three months. The haemoglobin protein in our red blood cells combines with a molecule of glucose and turns into glycated haemoglobin. In non-diabetics, HbA1c is between 5.2 to 5.5, it is about 5.5 to 6 in pre-diabetics and in cases of people with diabetes, the HbA1c reading can be anything beginning from 6 up to 14. The higher the HbA1c the more severe is the diabetic condition of the patient.
Tips for fasting
Dr Hassanein advised the following broad guidelines for diabetics observing fast
