Ramadan fast: The right eating sequence, how should diabetes patients take their medicines

The digestive system that has been at rest all day is often shocked by heavy food and drinks when you break the fast in the evening. Health experts warn that shocking the gut and the intestines like this might not only cause health problems like indigestion but also topple the body’s metabolism. The blood sugar level skyrockets when you eat sweet treats and fried food to break your fast, adversely affecting insulin function. 

The body would use all its energy to digest these heavy, greasy foods, completely draining you. The doctors point out that breaking fast with heavy food would make you sloppy and tired and might even make you lose focus while performing namaz or prayers. Moreover, following such unhealthy eating habits will lead to diabetes, obesity and liver diseases in the future. Dr Bashir Babu Tharayil, Consultant Paediatrician at SKMC Abu Dhabi, explains. 

Stay hydrated
To enjoy the benefits of fasting, you should drink two glasses of water as soon as you break the fast in the evening. Fruits should be the first morsel of food that you eat, as they would relax your gut. Drink another glass of water after the prayers and then enjoy a nourishing meal. 

After an hour, drink two more glasses of water to ensure optimal hydration. Make sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water before dawn, when you eat. Drinking eight glasses of water during the eating window will keep your body well hydrated and healthy. Eating heavy foods like biryani immediately after breaking the fast can lead to several health problems. 

Do not overeat
Overeating fried food will lead to trans - fat deposits in the body and may even lead to heart diseases, high blood pressure and cholesterol. 
Eat fruits and vegetables
Try eating lots of fruits and vegetables during the eating window during Ramadan. Fruits such as watermelon, orange, sweet lime, carrot, and cucumber, which are high in water content, should be included in the daily diet. 

How children can stay nourished
Make sure that they drink sufficient water before fasting. Emphasising balanced meals will keep children nourished during Ramadan. Health experts advise children to stop fasting if they show symptoms like nausea, severe exhaustion or a low amount of urine. Children who suffer from type 1 diabetes, asthma, seizures, or other chronic diseases should seek a doctor’s advice before fasting. 

Salt and sugar
Overeating salty food like pickles, crisps and packaged food will lead to high blood pressure and stroke. Besides, salt will reduce the hydration levels in the body. Consuming too many sweet treats immediately after breaking the fast could be dangerous, as it may lead to diabetes and obesity. 

The body is not ready to receive heavy meals immediately after you break the fast. Try eating nutritious food multiple times in small quantities. When people fast, the glucose in their bodies disappears after 12 hours. The body will then start using the fat deposits for its functioning. Breaking the fast should not be a war against appetite; instead, it should be a celebration of minimalism and healthy habits. 

Medicines during Ramadan
Those who are taking medicines daily shouldn’t stop taking them. The medicines in the morning could be taken after the meal during dawn, while the nighttime medicines could be taken with dinner. Diabetic patients should change the dosage or the timing of their medicines only after seeking their doctor’s advice.