Diabetes and fasting: a comprehensive guide
There is a lot of fuss around fasting these days; intermittent fasting, dry fasting, and now during those days there is the religious fasting practiced by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan.
Fasting, when done correctly, is good for health and for weight loss. However, if you have a chronic illness, then fasting might pose a danger to your health. That's why people with chronic illnesses are advised to avoid fasting, especially dry fasting.
Diabetes is one of those illnesses. People who suffer from diabetes are warned against fasting; even those who do it religiously are exempt if they suffer from this condition, but despite that, some choose to fast anyway. If you are one of those, then you should go into it guarded with as much knowledge as you can, and we are here to provide you with that knowledge.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that affects the blood sugar levels in your body, causing them to rise beyond their normal values. That increase in glucose levels with time ends up leading to other problems if the diabetes is not controlled.
There are two types of diabetes:
Type 2 diabetes: which is the most common type of diabetes, inflicts adults usually after they reach 45 years. Type 2 is hereditary, which means if anyone in the family has it, then you need to be careful to avoid having it. You can do that by following a diet that restricts carbohydrate intake.
According to the CDC report, about 38 million Americans suffer from diabetes (which amounts to about 1 in 10), and approximately 90–95% of them have type 2 diabetes. Insulin is not necessary for everyone who suffers from type 2; sometimes a good diet combined with one medication can be quite sufficient.
Type 1 diabetes: type 1 diabetes is thought to be a result of an issue with the immune system; in this case, the immune system attacks the beta cells in the pancreas, which are the cells that are responsible for producing insulin. Type 1 can inflict people of all ages, including kids, and for it, taking insulin is a must.
Why is fasting not recommended for diabetes patients?
Diabetes patients are at risk of having what is called hypoglycemia, which is a severe drop in the levels of sugar in your body. That drop might affect other organs and might even lead to fainting and coma if it's not addressed soon.
Fasting means that the intake of carbohydrates that your body is used to is suddenly dropping, which means lower levels of glucose in your blood, which in turn might cause hypoglycemia.
In the case of ketoacidosis, which results from an increase in blood sugar levels, the patient will need to be given water, and if he insists on fasting, that would pose a risk.
Precautions to take if you have diabetes and you want to fast
Generally speaking, if you have diabetes type 2, fasting is safe if you follow the precautions that we will give you. However, it's trickier for patients with type 1 diabetes; those patients are at higher risk, and they need to follow closely with their doctors if they want to fast.
Type 2 diabetes and fasting
As mentioned before, if you have type 2 diabetes, it's generally safe to fast, granted that you take into account the following:
1. Talk to your ddoctor
Before you start fasting, talk to your doctor and make a plan for the period you are planning to fast. Know which blood sugar levels are considered high and low in your case, because they tend to be different from patient to patient. The doctor will also determine if you should take the same doses of your anti-hypoglycemic medications or if the doses should be reduced.
2. Avoid large meals
If you are fasting for Ramadan, that means you will be without food or water for a period of about 12 to 15 hours. When the time for breaking fast (iftar) comes, hunger will push you to eat ravenously, which causes a spike in blood sugar levels. You should do your best not to fall head over heels on your plate, eat moderately, and know that you can eat from all food groups.
You can divide this large meal into three meals during the non-fasting period, including the meal before dawn (sahoor).
3. Take your medications regularly
Whether the doctor decided that you should take the same doses or whether he prescribed new ones, you must commit to taking your medications as prescribed and on time. That will help you avoid fluctuations and reduce the side effects of fasting.
4. Diversify your meal
Make sure your meal contains samples from different food groups. In order to cover all nutrition, you want your meal to have at least one component from each of the following categories:
Carbohydrates: bread, rice, or wheat products.
Proteins: milk, yogurt, meat, or chicken.
Vitamins: vegetables and fruits.
5. Measure your blood sugar levels
Measure your random glucose levels regularly, preferably more than once a day. If you notice an unusual and alarming drop, break your fast.
6. Watch for hypoglycemia
Stay alert and break your fast instantly when you feel one or more of the following symptoms:
Muscle spasms on the hands, feet, and face.
Fatigue.
Numbness.
Abnormal heartbeat.
If you have any of the symptoms above, you should quickly break your fast before the hypoglycemia becomes severe (severe hypoglycemia can lead to coma, affect the brain, and, on occasion, lead to death).
7. Don't overwork yourself
Moving is good, but do not overwork yourself, and get enough rest and sleep. Getting enough rest helps you avoid the risks.
As you see, with the correct planning and the right dose of caution, fasting the day, even if you are a diabetes patient, is quite possible and safe, but remember to keep your guards on!
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