Dos and don’ts for those fasting despite diabetes

DOS

1. Consult your doctor: Doing so will help you in eating and avoiding foods that can lead to various issues like weight gain, acidity, and dehydration.

2. Maintain your blood sugar level: Maintaining a stable blood sugar level in the acceptable range before fasting helps in controlling glucose levels during fasting.

3. Check your blood sugar level frequently: Check blood sugar levels while fasting (as advised), especially if you are taking insulin. Avoid fasting if your blood sugar level has gone down. 4. Take medicine on time: Even if you are fasting, it is imperative to take medication and insulin.

5. Take smaller meals: Eat-in a limited proportion and avoid oily food after breaking fast.

It is the need of the hour to have fluids and maintain electrolyte balance to avoid dehydration.

DON’TS

Do not have too many sweets or fatty foods. Maintain a food diary.

2. Don’t skip meals: Do not skip meals or consume a lot of food after skipping the meal, as doing so can lead to uncontrolled blood sugar. 3. Don’t ignore these signs: Don’t take any signs like vomiting, dark urine, a headache, and nausea lightly.

4. Seek medical help: Be vigilant regarding signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) -dizziness, excessive sweating, tremors, confusion can be signs of the same. Seek your doctor’s advice.

5. Do not overexercise: If you are fasting then don’t exercise rigorously as doing so can lower the blood sugar levels. Ask your fitness instructor about the exercises you can opt for while fasting.

The whole point is, a person with diabetes can still keep Navratri fasts through proper planning and preparations.