Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Sanofi, a global integrated healthcare leader, in collaboration with the Association of Diabetic Patient Friends in Jeddah recently organized an intensive training workshop for diabetic patients and their families. The workshop's focus was how to observe fast during the holy month of Ramadan and how to avoid diabetic complications during the fasting month. The comprehensive workshop attended by hundreds of diabetics and their families focused how to simplify diabetes management during Ramadan including dietary options; treatment and challenges that diabetic patients face during the fasting period.
“Diabetic patients need to pay special attention to their condition all year around and especially in the month of Ramadan as they become vulnerable to several complications during fasting,” said Professor Abdulrahman Al Sheikh, Consultant Endocrinologist at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Solaiman Fakeeh Hospital and head of the Saudi Scientific Diabetes Society. "Patients need to be more vigilant in abiding by the instructions from their doctors. Several risks might occur due to changes in their eating patterns during Ramadan and might cause serious complications like hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia which need to be managed and patients need to check their glucose levels twice while fasting and once after breaking the fast," he said. Furthermore, he said, diabetic pregnant women and those with pregestational or gestational diabetes will be at higher risk during fasting along with patients who already suffer from diabetic complications like kidney failure, eye complication and heart and hypertension. Dr. Salah Mousa, General Manager of Sanofi Saudi Arabia, commented: “Sanofi's commitment is to listen to patients' needs, part of that need is to educate diabetic patients on how to improve their quality of life especially in the holy month of Ramadan." Finding the balance in the holy month, he said, is a challenge for most diabetics. "Having a Ramadan-focused education they will be able to manage their diet, physical exercise, glucose levels and watch out for any complications that might emerge,” he said.
