The Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), and Diabetes and Ramadan International Alliance organised a symposium entitled ‘Diabetes and Ramadan’ in co-operation with the Qatar Metabolic Institute, as part of QDA’s annual Ramadan and diabetes awareness campaign.

The symposium was attended by over 300 doctors, nurses, dietitians and pharmacists working in diabetes clinics at the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), private hospitals, and military and police clinics in Qatar.

The focus was on topics including insulin therapy while fasting; the latest technology and medication in the field of diabetes; pregnancy, diabetes and Ramadan; categories of high-risk diabetic patients during Ramadan; and consultation and advice on nutrition and diabetes control during fasting. Additionally, a number of studies and papers on the topic of diabetes and Ramadan were presented during the seminar.

The symposium was presented by a group of diabetes specialists at Hamad Medical Corporation and PHCC in collaboration with experts from overseas.

"The aim of this annual symposium is to provide healthcare providers with the latest guidelines for diabetes management during the month of Ramadan with a focus on safer methods of treatment during fasting," Dr Abdullah al-Hamaq, executive director of QDA said.

“The symposium emphasises the importance of educating people with diabetes well in advance of Ramadan to reduce risks or complications during the fasting,” al-Hamaq said.

“This global epidemic affects countries with large Muslim populations, where the prevalence of diabetes is above the global average. The numbers are expected to increase dramatically over the next 25 years,” he added.

According to Islamic religious teachings, those whose health may be affected by fasting – including patients whose condition is fragile or who have unstable diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, or chronic complications such as kidney failure and macro vascular complications – are not required to do so.

Pregnant woman with diabetes and people who are undergoing dialysis, have poor glycemic control, unaware of the symptoms of hypoglycemia or who have experienced recurrent hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, or hyperosmolar hyperglycemia coma in the three months before Ramadan, or are doing intensive physical work are not required to fast, as well as elderly patients living alone.

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