What is Ramadan?

What is Ramadan?   Ramadan is a special time where many Muslims around the world spend a month focusing on reconnecting with God and deepening their spirituality. During this period, believers engage in various acts of worship, and fasting is a major part of their traditions. Fasting during Ramadan involves not eating, drinking , smoking or partaking in other physical needs from dawn until sunset. The idea is, that by with-holding your body from physical needs, you can focus on your spiritual ones. Does Everybody Have to Fast?   Many people choose to fast during Ramadan, however there are some cases where people may not fast. These include If you are unwell or diagnosed with a medical condition which makes it difficult for you to fast. Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with diabetes you are not required to fast and it is up to whether you decide to. If you are thinking about fasting with diabetes, it is useful to talk to both your doctor and Imam for guidance. This is particularly important if you are on medications, as your doses may need to be altered. It might be useful to make a medication schedule to help remind you of your new medication regimes during Ramadan.   What are the risks?

For people without diabetes, their bodies manage fasting by releasing stored sugar from the liver when they’re not eating. This helps maintain normal and steady blood sugar levels.

But for people with diabetes fasting is more challenging. Your body struggles to keep blood sugar levels in check, which can result in sugar levels that are too high or too low

You are more likely to have a low blood sugar during Ramadan (sometimes known as a hypo or hypoglycemica) if you are on blood sugar lowering medication and you are not eating as much as you normally do.

It is really important that you familiarise yourself and the people around you with symptoms of low blood sugar, this will help you identify how your body is coping with fasting and if you should stop. Symptoms to be wary of include:

• Dizziness
• Feeling unusually anxious
• Feeling unusually sweaty
• Feel shaky
• Feeling weak
• Nausea or even experiencing vision issues and confusion

Having a low blood sugar can be harmful for your body. If you do have a hypo during fasting, it is important to break your fast and treat the hypo. Follow your usual hypo treatment plan and tell a medical professional. This will make sure you can adjust your medications if needed

As a diabetic your body can struggle to prevent your sugar levels spiking after a meal. Often at Suhoor (the meal before you start your fast) and at Iftar (the meal you break your fast with), it is common to have large meals. This can trigger a spike in your blood sugar levels. This can lead to very high blood sugar levels which can even be dangerous. The symptoms of high blood sugar levels might include:

• Feeling unusually thirsty
• Passing a lot more urine than usual
• Feel extremely tired

If you experience these symptoms and your blood sugar levels are high, speak to a medical professional.

Should I wake up for Suhoor?  

We would recommend that you try and have your suhoor. Eating food in the morning makes it easier for your body to keep your blood sugar stable throughout the day.

Not to mention, you are less likely to be tired throughout the day!

What should I eat?  

Try to be smart about which foods you eat during your non-fasting hours. Your best bet is to eat foods which can release energy throughout the day. Meals that include whole-grain pasta, beans, lentils and root vegetables are all good ways to get that long release energy. Having oatmeal and muesli for your suhoor are excellent choices to keep you going throughout the day.

Iftar can often be a celebratory meal with lots of fried and sweet food. Try and help your body out by limiting your amount of these foods. If you’re preparing the foods, try and think about healthier alternatives to frying. Where you can, try to drink water over sweetened drinks! Help your body and you’ll feel healthier for it.

How do I keep fit during Ramadan?  

Maintaining your physical fitness during Ramadan, However, it’s important to strike a balance if you’re not eating during the day. Light exercise is recommended; fitting short walks into your routine can be super helpful.

An easy way for muslims to introduce exercise into their day during Ramadan is engaging in the evening prayer called Taraweeh. This prayer normally occurs after breaking fast. Participating in Taraweeh prayers can act as a way of exercising, with continuous movement and periods of standing up and down.

As a general rule try and check your blood sugars before and during the exercise to guide you on how your body is doing. Everyone reacts differently to exercise, so keep checking your blood sugars as they might drop upto 12 hours after exercise. By getting to know your body better, you can figure out what exercise works best for you

If you exercise, it’s likely you’ll need extra carbohydrates (like bread, rice, pasta, and starchy vegetables) to prevent your blood sugar levels dropping. Try and make sure during iftar and suhoor you are having enough carbohydrates and are keeping hydrated.

The bottom line  

In summary, fasting is your choice. If you decide to fast, make sure to carry low blood sugar treatment with you just in case. Try not to fast if you feel unwell, and chat to a medical professional if you might need to change your medication regime. During iftar and suhoor, make sure to eat foods that set you up for the day ahead.

Whether you decide to fast or not, we truly hope you have a blessed Ramadan!

Ramadan Kareem!