Dr Fayaz Ahmad Bhat Assistant Professor Department of General Medicine at SKIMS Soura said that besides having enormous health benefits, fasting is the best opportunity for smokers to quit cigarette smoking.
He said that diabetic patients, who wish to keep fast, must take special care as it is not advisable for them to take long food breaks and taking some frequent meals after certain durations helps in maintaining their blood glucose level smoothly.
“Diabetic patients must check blood sugar levels frequently during fasting. If someone feels symptoms of hypoglycaemia, an instant blood sugar test should be done to prevent any untoward complication, he added.
“Diabetic patients could have slow absorbing foods, which have low glycaemic index, before you begin the fast. These types of food keep your blood glucose level more stable and smooth during the course of the fast.” Dr Fayaz said.
Dr Irfan from GMC Srinagar said that Ramadan is the best opportunity for people to leave bad habits like smoking as fasting develops a sense of patience in the person.
Ramadan is an opportunity to make significant changes in one’s lifestyle and develop the resolve to make healthy living choices, he said.
“The diet should be simple and not differ too much from one’s normal everyday diet. It should contain foods from all the major food groups – like fruits and vegetables; bread, other cereals and potatoes; milk and meat; fish and dairy food alternatives; foods containing fat and foods containing sugar,” he added.
Overeating can not only harm the body, but it also interferes with a person’s spiritual growth during the month, he said. (KNO)
