HOW FASTING CAN BE A HEADACHE FOR UAE’S HOSPITALS
▶ Upsurge of complaints relating to dehydration, diabetes and asthma during the holy month
At the time of day when most people are relaxing and breaking their fast, doctors at the city’s clinics are just getting started.
And while no day is the same in medicine, hospital staff are seeing more patients with diabetes or asthma coming to them with fasting-related health problems.
Many health-related issues during Ramadan are down to medication, with patients unsure of taking their prescribed treatments during periods of fasting or taking them at the wrong time of day.
The effects can be devastating, with medical staff at the Burjeel Day Surgery Centre on Al Reem Island recording a spike in hospital admissions either first thing in the morning or later at night.
“We see a lot of problems with the timing of medication taken by our patients that cause problems during fasting hours – because of that, relapses are common,” said Dr Fadi Baladi, medical director of the surgery.
“Because of the nature of the diseases we are treating related to fasting, we do see problems related to gastrointestinal conditions and dehydration in the heat.
“With asthma patients, we see some who are worried about breaking their fast by using their inhaler.
“A patient came into the hospital because her asthma had become a problem.
“When I asked her about the medication, she told me she was taking her daily dose in just four or five hours, rather than the stipulated 24-hour cycle. This was causing a problem.
“Patients with diabetes are also having the same problems by postponing their insulin – this is dangerous.”
Most admissions come from a minority of the hospital’s patient community, as 70 per cent are expatriates and non-Muslims, staff said.
Those with diabetes are most at risk from fasting, and should check with their doctor that it is safe to do so.
Insulin injections to control type 1 diabetes often need to be administered 12 hours apart, but doctors said some who are fasting fail to do this and end up in hospital.
“We wouldn’t usually see these patients during the rest of the year, it is only during Ramadan that they have problems with their medication control,” Dr Baladi said.
“Anyone making use of injections, inhalers or pills should continue – even doing some health tests is difficult during Ramadan.
“Some wait until iftar, and then choose not to come until the day after, so it creates a problem.
“We have extra staff in later at night, and transport for them can be difficult late at night, but we try to help as much as possible.”
Patients who continue to take blood-glucose-lowering medication during the daylight hours of fasting may increase their risk of hypoglycaemia, or low blood-sugar level.
This can result in dizziness, confusion, seizures or even death in extreme cases.
Those with diabetes taking insulin should not stop treatment because it could lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous short-term complication that can lead to diabetic coma.
Michael Ghani, director of operations at Burjeel Day Surgery Centre, said all steps are taken to ensure services are available to patients when they are needed.
“Most of the time, patients are fasting during the day, so they so not want to see their doctor,” he said.
“We’ve decided to make our specialists available from 8.30pm to 11.30pm. Normally we work from 9am until 10pm, but it is usually very quiet during the daytime.
“There is a hotline people can use, and although we modify the staffing schedule, it is pretty much business as usual.”
We wouldn’t usually see these patients during the rest of the year, it is only during Ramadan that they have problems with their medication control FADI BALADI Medical director Burjeel Day Surgery Centre