Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani took part in a workshop organized by the Ministry of Public Health during which medical specialists provided practical advice for the fasting in the holy month of Ramadan, in particular people with diabetes and high blood pressure.

Fasting for people with diabetes

Dr. Azar stressed on the importance of testing blood sugar during fasting, and notes that studies showed that people with diabetes who seriously follow instructions do not suffer from any complications during the fasting period.

Dr. Hajar Ballout stated that the cases in which the fasting patient should immediately stop fasting and see the doctor are the following: low level of sugar in blood (below 60mg/dL), high level of sugar in blood (exceeding 300mg/dL). Dr. Ballout explained that symptoms of low level of sugar in blood are the following: hunger, headache, dizziness, sleepiness, cold sweats, tachycardia, trembling, and poor concentration. In case these happen to the patient, he should immediately stop fasting and eat, otherwise, he might pass out.

Dr. Ballout stressed on the necessity to have al iftar just on time and delay al suhur to prevent low sugar level in blood during fasting. The meals should include healthy food rich in fibers since they are slowly absorbed and provide the body with energy. She also called on fasting people to avoid sugary beverages and replace them with sugar free beverages, do exercise or walk two or three hours after al iftar, knowing that the level of sugar should be tested before walking.

Fasting for people with high blood pressure

Dr. Ali Abu-Alfa briefed the instructions that should be followed by the fasting people with high blood pressure; drinking a lot of water and natural non-sweetened juices between al iftar and al suhur to avoid thirst and dehydration, eating lots of vegetables and fruit in Ramadan for they contain considerable amounts of potassium that help regulate blood pressure, unless forbidden by the doctor, eating less fatty food, consuming fish for it contains fatty acids that regulate flood pressure, eating dairy products that contain calcium and play a major role in regulating blood pressure and preserving bone health, refraining from adding salt or eating food that contain too much salt (sodium) and might increase pressure and lead to thirst.

Dr. Abu-Alfa recommended people with high blood pressure to pay attention to symptoms of high pressure; dizziness, headache and poor concentration, make sure they regularly test their blood pressure, practice jogging that helps regulate blood pressure and try to quit smoking that causes high systolic blood pressure and increases risks of heart attacks or strokes and finally consider Ramadan a golden opportunity to lose weight and control blood pressure.