Ramadan Recommendations for Patients with Chronic Illnesses

Ramadan Recommendations for People with Chronic Diseases Fasting reorganizes eating habits and lifestyle, and has positive effects on health. Fasting enables the body to heal itself and helps the organism cleanse itself of harmful substances. This Ramadan, fasting lasts approximately 14 hours. The long period between suhoor and iftar requires careful attention to nutrition, not only for people with chronic health problems who wish to fast, but also for healthy individuals. Dr. Özgür Mollaoğlu from the Internal Medicine Department at Memorial Şişli Hospital provided information about what those who wish to fast and those with chronic diseases should pay attention to.

Regular medication use should be adjusted according to suhoor and iftar

  While fasting has health benefits, it can create problematic situations particularly for the elderly and those with chronic diseases. The elderly age group should undergo health checks before fasting to obtain information about blood pressure, blood sugar, kidney, heart and liver function. Those with stomach problems should take acid-reducing medications before suhoor if they have excessive acidity or reflux complaints; this will reduce stomach complaints throughout the day. However, those who previously had stomach ulcers or bleeding are advised to consult their doctors and, if necessary, refrain from fasting. Thyroid patients who need to take regular medication can fast by consulting their doctors and adjusting medication times according to suhoor and iftar.

Heart and diabetic patients should be especially careful

  Heart patients, those with high blood pressure, and especially diabetics using insulin should not fast as it may be inadvisable. For this reason, they should not fast without consulting their doctors. Additionally, people with high cholesterol, kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, reflux and stomach complaints must definitely consult a specialist physician about whether they can fast. The same applies to those with low blood pressure, underweight, and advanced age. Children, pregnant and nursing women are also not recommended to fast. Fasting may not be suitable for weak individuals or those with previous serious illnesses. For this reason, it is important to consult doctors who can assess the person's health condition before fasting.

Fasting without suhoor can negatively affect your health

  Many people try to fast without waking up for suhoor. This extends the fasting period while increasing the risk of low blood sugar, causing difficulty concentrating, headaches and fatigue. The suhoor meal should not be skipped. This is important for maintaining blood sugar levels. Water should definitely be consumed in abundance during suhoor, and light breakfast or lightly salted, lightly spiced vegetable dishes or olive oil-based foods should be preferred. Additionally, milk and eggs can be recommended due to their protein content and satiating effects. As white bread rapidly raises blood sugar and creates hunger sensation more quickly, whole wheat bread or rye bread is more beneficial in terms of nutrition and feeling of fullness. One should not go back to sleep immediately after the suhoor meal. It is beneficial for at least 1 hour to pass.  

For a healthy iftar, food should be eaten slowly

Key points that people with chronic diseases who wish to fast during Ramadan should pay extra attention to are listed as follows: 1. It is important for people with chronic diseases to fast after consulting their doctor. 2. While fasting, diseases should also be kept under control; if medication is used, it should not be neglected, and timing adjustments should be made. 3. If there are prohibited foods according to the disease, the diet plan should not be abandoned by thinking "I am fasting anyway, I am eating fewer meals." 4. After prolonged fasting, care should be taken not to eat more in quantity and variety than normally consumed at iftar. 5. Iftar should begin with a bowl of soup, water should be consumed, and a 20-minute break should be taken before starting the main meal. 6. Food should be eaten slowly without rushing. 7. Olive oil-based foods should be preferred, meat and chicken should be grilled, and leafy green vegetables must be consumed abundantly for daily vitamin needs. 8. For dessert, low-sugar dairy desserts should be preferred instead of syrup-based and difficult-to-digest sweets, and fruits should be consumed at least 1-2 hours after meals. 9. Those who exercise and wish to continue during Ramadan are advised to avoid heavy exercise after iftar and instead take a 30-minute walk 1 hour after meals. 10. Since daily fluid intake is very important, special care should be taken to drink plenty of water, especially between suhoor and iftar, and at least 2-2.5 liters of water should be consumed.