With the advent of Ramadan every year, questions abound in Muslim societies about the ability of people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure to perform the obligation of fasting regularly.
“Can I fast?” is the first question people with chronic diseases ask their doctors as Ramadan approaches every year, according to many doctors.
Turkish doctor Amin Gamchioglu, an internal pathologist at the "Itlik" medical city in the capital, Ankara, notes that most of the reviews in this regard come from people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart, rheumatism, and cancer.
He explains that each chronic disease must be evaluated separately, and those infected with these diseases must conduct the necessary examinations and analyzes under the supervision of doctors before embarking on fasting.
Diabetics
According to Gemcioglu, doctors divide diabetic patients into two groups, and in general recommend patients who use insulin not to fast because they suffer from a significant drop in blood sugar levels during the day.
He adds, "But if our patient's blood sugar is under control, and if he uses 1 or 2 sugar pills a day, and if these drugs do not significantly reduce blood sugar, then we can recommend him in this case to take his medications according to the Suhoor times." And breakfast, and fasting based on that.”
According to Cemcioglu, these patients should not exert much effort during fasting and should ensure adequate fluid intake between breakfast and suhoor.
Hypertensive patients
With regard to people with high blood pressure, Gumchioglu said that they undergo blood pressure checks when they see doctors before fasting begins.
And he continues: "If the patient's blood pressure is within the normal limits, then we advise him to take his medicine according to the hours of breakfast and suhoor, and to continue his fast accordingly."
As for patients whose blood pressure is very high or not under control, the Turkish doctor confirmed that they organize their treatment and advise them not to fast, at least in the first stage.
Heart patients
Regarding heart patients, Gumchi Oglu said that this disease has different types. If the patient suffers from heart failure and his body suffers from edema (swelling caused by excess fluid retained in the body tissues) and he must use diuretics, then it is recommended not to fast.
He adds, "Patients who do not suffer from heart failure and who use a little heart medication can fast after regulating the dose and time of treatment by their supervising physicians."
cancer patients
Gumchioglu stresses that he does not advise cancer patients receiving chemotherapy to fast at all, because their bodies are in suppressed resistance and are vulnerable to infection.
He adds, "Moreover, we also do not recommend fasting for patients with kidney failure who are undergoing dialysis, but stable kidney patients who are not undergoing dialysis can fast by organizing their drug treatments according to breakfast and suhoor."
And he continues, "We also recommend elderly patients not to fast, according to the patient's privacy, in the event that fluid loss causes serious problems for them."
He explains that they do not usually recommend fasting for rheumatism patients who use drugs that suppress the immune system, and otherwise it is possible to fast according to the doctors’ recommendation.