Hyderabad: Ramadan, the ninth month of Muslim calendar, will most probably begin on May 28, in India, subject to the sighting of the moon. Fasting during the Holy month of Ramadan is one of the main pillars of Islam. But when you have diabetes, you may be wondering how fasting will affect your diabetes. Here’s good news for diabetes patients.
The South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies (SAFES) has come out with a consensus statement on the use of novel drugs, called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, to keep the blood sugar levels under control during this period. The consensus statement was published in the recent issue of Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism _ a scientific journal. The new drugs have been found to act well on people suffering from type 2 diabetes while they are on fast. Diabetes patients can take the new drugs after discussing with doctor on the safe use of these medicines.
As reported by the Time of India, these drugs were first successfully tested on diabetics in India during the Ramadan of 2016. The new drugs were also tested in different parts of the world. During the last nine months SAFES held a series of meetings with eminent endocrinologists from different cities around the world, including Hyderabad, to study the efficacy of the new class of drugs on the management of type 2 diabetes. After the brainstorming, the SAFES has recommended safe and pragmatic use of the new medicines.
Though they cause loss of water, the new drugs canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin have been found to keep the blood sugar levels under control. The SAFES suggested intake of adequate fluid to prevent water depletion.
However Dr Rakesh Sahay of the department of endocrinology, Osmania Medical College, who was part of the team of endocrinologists, cautioned diabetes patients with hypoglycemia risk to fast only after consulting doctor and act on the medical advice.