Healthy lifestyle practices essential during Ramadan

The National Diabetes Centre at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is launching a nationwide 'Diabetes and Ramadan: Fast Safely, Stay Healthy' campaign. This initiative aims to educate people with diabetes and Qatar population, increase their knowledge of diabetes, and empower them to control their health during Ramadan and beyond. It will also highlight strategies to manage and prevent lifestyle-related diabetes, including glucose monitoring, physical activity, nutrition, medication dose adjustment and timing in Ramadan.
Dr Manal Musallam Othman, director, Patient Education Medicine, HMC said: "Diabetes is a complicated condition that can cause both immediate and life-threatening long-term complications. As a result, education, prevention, and diagnostic services remain at the frontline of the battle against diabetes and related chronic diseases and raising community awareness of healthy lifestyle practices during Ramadan is vital for ensuring safe fasting."
"For people with diabetes, choosing to fast throughout the holy month of Ramadan entails various potential difficulties. Numerous people with diabetes also deal with other associated complications of diabetes, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, visual problems, and renal disease. Therefore, healthcare experts advise those with diabetes to exercise regularly and consult their physicians and HCP before fasting. They should have detailed therapy recommendations, dietary modifications, and a medical evaluation specific to their health condition," added Dr Othman.
The campaign features several activities, including a workshop for the home healthcare staff to learn about the essential needs for efficient diabetes management, also, expand their knowledge on fasting-related requirements, including glucose monitoring, physical activity, nutrition, medication dose adjustment, and timing in Ramadan.
The workshop's programme covers all aspects of fasting during Ramadan for people with diabetes, focusing on interactivity and discussion and allowing home healthcare staff to learn from each other and interact with experts in the field to improve the home healthcare patient experience, maximise outcomes, and ultimately improve the quality of life for patients.
Additionally, the campaign includes two educational lectures titled 'Diabetes and Safe Fasting in Ramadan,' targeting the community. While the first lecture was delivered in Arabic, targeting Arabic speakers, the second was designated for English speakers. Both lectures aimed to ensure that people with diabetes receive the proper glucose monitoring education and engage in regular physical activities.
Along with these activities, a social media campaign will kick off one week before Ramadan and run throughout the month to engage with the public by sharing information about diabetes and Ramadan and supporting those affected by the disease. Eyad Ahmad Ibrahim Abu ne'meh, patient educator at Hamad General Hospital highlighted that the working hours for diabetes hotline would be changed from 7am to 5pm. He said: "It is an excellent opportunity for us to join hands to raise awareness and promote diabetes management during Ramadan. Diabetes is a complicated disease that may impact the entire body. Hence, even if you don't have diabetes, you should understand it to help your family, relatives, and loved ones".