Not So Fast: Fasting alters the way body processes glucose and can bring sugar levels down
If you are diabetic and are planning to fast, you might want to consider consulting the doctor first.
For, the benefits of fasting, religious or otherwise, may turn out to be counter-productive for diabetics, experts have warned.
Endocrinologists in the city say awareness about impacts of fasting on diabetics is very low and patients often underestimate the risks involved, leading to high or low blood sugar. Those that suffer from other ailments such as kidney diseases and blood pressure also run the risk of dehydration and other conditions.
"It is important that when you fast, you adjust your diabetes medication as per your fasting regime. This is because diabetes medication are prescribed keeping in mind a normal, regular diet and the dose of medicine and the time when it is taken needs to be altered if one is fasting," said Dr Rucha Mehta, endocrinologist and diabetologist with Apollo Hospital in the city.
Dr Mehta said that each fast is different and hence, it is important to consult the doctor to know about the change in medication. "During Navratri fasting, people may eat once while some forms of fasting include not even having a glass of water for the whole day. Fasting during Ramzan includes a heavy meal at a particular time. All this severely impacts glucose levels if the medicines are not altered accordingly," said Dr Mehta.
"Just as not eating anything during the day ends up lowering sugar levels, having a heavy meal in one go will spike it up considerably. Moreover, many diabetic patients also happen to have blood pressure and kidney ailments.
These factors should also be considered while fasting," said Dr Mehta.
Dr Ramesh Goyal, Consultant & HOD, Dept of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Apollo Hospital said other potential health hazards include acute metabolic complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis.
Dos
- Consult your doctor prior to, during and post fasting
- Include high-fibre food in your diet
- Drink plenty of water and sugar-free beverages during non-fasting hours
- Monitor your blood sugar levels multiple times daily, especially if you are taking insulin
- Include plenty of fruits, vegetables in your meals
Don’ts
- Don’t ignore low or high blood sugar levels
- Don’t continue with fast if blood sugar level goes below 70 mg/dL or above 300 mg/dL
- Limit intake of fried food, sweets, and caffeinated drinks
- Avoid excessive exercise during fasting hours
- Don’t stop taking medicines without consulting the doctor
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