Ramadan 2023: The smell of freshly toasted bread, the sound of marinated meat being cooked on the grill, and many other colorful dishes make your mouth water. The real fun of Iftar lies in this. Ramadan is about to start soon. Preparations are going on in the homes for the Iftar feast. Amid so many food items, where is the care of health? But the same carelessness towards health can spoil the fun of festivals, so do not compromise with anyone in the matter of health, not only during normal days but also during festivals and fasts. If you or someone in your household is a diabetic patient, then there is a need to take more precautions during Ramadan.
Keeping the fast during Ramadan is very difficult for diabetic patients. For this, they have to make many changes in their routine and lifestyle, they also have to put in a lot of effort to keep their glucose level correct throughout the day.
This is how diabetic patients should take care of themselves during Ramzan
1. Food you should take in Sehri (before sunrise) to increase your energy: Take food rich in fiber and starch in Sehri, which keeps the energy in the body throughout the day. For this, oats, multigrain bread, brown or basmati rice, pulses, and other substances should be consumed. Tofu and dry fruits can also be consumed. During the days of Ramadan, maximum water should be drunk during Sehri and Iftar. But beverages containing sugar or high caffeine, such as coffee, and soft drinks should not be consumed.
2. Monitor blood sugar regularly: You should keep checking your glucose level regularly. There are many ways to do this from the comfort of your own home. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices such as the FreeStyle Libre can be worn. Due to this, it is easy to monitor the blood sugar level. There is no need to suffer the pain of a needle prick in the finger-like in traditional glucose testing.
3. Eat well iftar (at the time of breaking the fast): The fast of Ramzan should be broken with dates and milk. After this, you can consume carbohydrates. Should drink plenty of water. Sweets and fried food items should be consumed judiciously as they can affect your health. If you eat fruits at bedtime, it can help in maintaining your sugar level till early morning.
4. Follow a routine of light exercise: You should keep doing light exercise even during the fast, but do not do very tiring workouts. You can do walking or yoga. Resistance training will also not reduce muscle strength.
5. Get good sleep: Adequate and deep sleep should be taken. It is essential for good health and better living. Deep sleep can keep the body fit. Digestion is also fine due to the completion of sleep and it will help in controlling the blood glucose level. This is very important to manage diabetes.
