Write it down! 5 tips for fasting for people with diabetes

Suara.com – For people with diabetes, fasting during Ramadan needs special planning. Don’t let your blood sugar levels drop too low, which can ultimately endanger your health.

That is why doctors who treat diabetics often have fasting guidelines for patients.

Reported US News USAHere are some good tips to consider if you have diabetes and plan to fast.

1. Plan with a doctor before fasting

If you have well-controlled diabetes, fasting will only be a small risk.

However, if you have ‘wild’ blood sugar fluctuations, for example from 400 mg / dL to 50 mg / dL on another day, your doctor will generally advise you not to fast.

2. Continue to check your blood sugar levels during the fast.

“Monitoring that often reduces the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and helps control blood sugar levels,” said Dr. Raveendran AV , an assistant professor of medicine at Government Medical College in Manjeri, Malappuram, India.

Amy Kimberlain, a certified diabetes educator at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Research on Diabetes, recommends checking it more often than usual, not just when breaking the fast.

“Checking your blood glucose regularly during the fast is the key to avoiding emergency health problems,” he said.

3. Continue to use insulin or any treatment regimen that the doctor recommends

For example, George Grunberger, an endocrinologist at the Grunberger Diabetes Institute in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, said that some patients who use insulin for treatment think they should stop it during the fast.

“That may be true for some patients with type 2 diabetes, but for type 1, their life depends on it (insulin), and you can’t stop basal insulin,” he warned.

4. Eat healthy foods at sunrise.

AV said diabetics should eat foods that contain complex carbohydrates and high fiber content. Also drink plenty of fluids at sunrise.

5. Know when to break your fast

“The general guideline for breaking the fast is if your blood glucose is less than 70 mg / dL,” said Kimberlain. Because, this shows hypoglycemia.

“In the case of hypoglycemia, it is important to break the fast and control it with foods or drinks that contain carbohydrates,” he continued.

In fact, the risk of developing hypoglycemia is 4.7 times higher during fasting in people with type 1 diabetes and 7.5 times higher in people with type 2 diabetes.