Safe Fasting for Diabetes Patients Requires Medical Planning

As Ramazan approaches, health experts in Pakistan are urging diabetes patients to undergo a pre-Ramazan risk assessment to ensure safe fasting. With an estimated 24 to 26 million people living with diabetes in the country, doctors warn that skipping medical consultation before fasting can lead to avoidable complications.

At the 12th International Diabetes and Ramazan Conference, organized by the Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology (BIDE), specialists emphasized that fasting can be safe for most patients if it is properly managed. They advised individuals to consult their doctors, adjust medications under supervision, and monitor blood glucose levels regularly.

Doctors clarified that checking blood sugar three to five times a day does not break the fast. Patients were also advised to break their fast immediately if glucose levels drop below 70 mg/dl or rise above 300 mg/dl with symptoms. In such cases, breaking the fast carries no religious penalty beyond making it up later when health improves.

Professor Javed Akram highlighted that Pakistan currently has around 34.5 million people with Type 2 diabetes and about 300,000 with Type 1 diabetes. He stressed that the real issue is not fasting itself, but the lack of medical planning before Ramazan.

Other experts, including Prof Aftab Mohsin and Prof Zahid Miyan, warned that poor eating habits, irregular sleep, and lack of structured medical advice often negate the potential health benefits of fasting. They emphasized that Ramazan should be a month of discipline and moderation rather than overindulgence.

Speakers also pointed to the role of technology, noting that digital health apps in local languages can help patients track glucose levels, receive medication reminders, and follow safer dietary plans. Cardiologists added that fasting can benefit heart health only when paired with sensible food choices and moderation.

The conference concluded with a unified message: with timely medical advice, structured risk assessment, and lifestyle adjustments, most people with diabetes can fast safely and enjoy both the spiritual and metabolic benefits of Ramazan.