Thousands of Muslim people in Windsor and Essex county will be celebrating the holy month of Ramadan beginning this week, even those with conditions like diabetes.
Many will observe a fast from sunrise to sunset every day and Dr. Joe Shaban said new medications have made it possible for those with diabetes to safely participate, as long as they're careful.
Shaban, an endocrinologist with Windsor Regional Hospital, has been counselling diabetics who observe the fast since he began practising in 1986.
“We have a large Muslim community here in Windsor so it’s something we’ve been managing for awhile,” he said.
But a lot has changed in the past two decades, said Shaban.
“The Koran permits someone with diabetes not to fast, but most Muslims in this area still want to fast and the beauty of it is we now have medications that allow them to fast safely,” Shaban said. “People with diabetes wouldn’t be allowed to fast a decade or two ago.”
Those who fast will not consume food or water from sunrise to sunset, which can be problematic for a diabetic, according to Shaban.
“Dehydration is a big problem for us, you need to get up before sunrise and make sure you drink that extra fluid to maintain the amount of fluid you would normally consume during the day. That has to be taken in over the night and then fasting can be relatively safe.” he said. “It would be similar to somebody who was on night shift work, you just move your eating schedule around.”
Patients also test their blood sugar regularly and are told to break their fast if it gets too low, Shaban said.
He said those who are sick or pregnant are allowed to skip the fast and can still participate in Ramadan by feeding the poor, but they often choose to participate anyway.
“Diabetics, pregnant women, especially immediately before or after the due date, women who are breast feeding, and those receiving cancer treatments are advised not to fast,” said Shaban. “They’re not forced to participate, but a lot of people feel like they’re not part of the community if they don’t. We advise them how to do it safely.”
But there is some benefit to fasting with diabetes, he said.
“For the majority of Muslims with diabetes, the fast may actually improve their diabetes control,” Shaban said. “Many people with diabetes are overweight so this is one method of promoting weight loss, although some may gain weight by overdoing it after they fast.”
He said, “This is one way to sort of clean out the system and give them some more will power with their diet.”
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