New Ramadan project to help Muslims diabetes fast safely

A new education resource for Muslims with diabetes planning to fast during Ramadan has been created by a group of volunteers for charity group Diabetes UK.
The group has helped put together a presentation that is available online and also for people to use in their local community to help raise awareness about the issues around fasting with diabetes through Ramada, which this year starts around 9 July.
Muslims who are diagnosed with diabetes do not have to fast but many choose to do so. The aim of the innovative project, which is to be trialled in six London mosques over the coming weeks, is to help those individuals fast safely during the holy month.
Jenne Patel, Equality and Diversity Manager at Diabetes UK, said: “It’s fantastic to see volunteers leading the way in raising awareness of staying healthy during Ramadan.
“The major problem during the fast is the potential onset of hypoglycaemia, also known as a hypo, when the body’s glucose levels falls too low. Those who chose to fast should eat food that is absorbed relatively slowly, such as basmati rice, pitta bread, chapattis and dhal, before they begin the fast.
“It’s important to check blood glucose levels more frequently than usual so that people can, if necessary, break the fast if their blood glucose level drops too low. Many Muslims think that testing blood is considered breaking the fast, but this is not the case.”
For those who need to break their fast, she added that it’s a “good idea” to use a handful of dates and a glass of milk or water, and also stressed the importance of drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Diabetes UK have also created two short films of people talking about living with type 2 diabetes and their reasons for choosing to fast throughout Ramadan this year.
To watch the films or the presentation visit diabetes.org.uk.