Dr. Mashoor Bin Nasser Al Hontoshi, Head of Health and Therapeutic Affairs department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh and Dr. Iman Shisha, head of Diabetes Center in King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Hospital Riyadh during the launch of MSD Saudi Arabia's ‘The Facts about Fasting During Ramadan' program
RIYADH – MSD, known as Merck in the United States and Canada, has launched new interactive, educational resources and a dedicated Ramadan application to help people with type 2 diabetes in the Kingdom who choose to fast during Ramadan. “MSD Saudi Arabia has organized an awareness and activities program targeted at Health care Practitioners for their Continuous Medical education (CME) in collaboration with other health and therapeutic programs department in the general directorate of health affairs in Riyadh region.” The “Facts About Fasting During Ramadan” program recognizes the potential challenges of fasting when you have diabetes, including variations in blood sugar levels as a result of changes in eating patterns. The program encourages people preparing to fast to visit their healthcare professional up to three months ahead of Ramadan, and develop a diabetes management plan which will help control their blood sugar levels during the holy month. According to diabetes guidelines from religious and medical organizations, some people with diabetes maybe exempt from religious fasting because of the increased risks of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), thrombosis and dehydration. However, more than 50 million people with diabetes worldwide make the personal decision to fast during Ramadan. This number is expected to rise with the increasing worldwide prevalence of diabetes. Recent figures from the International Diabetes Federation state that an estimated 387 million people worldwide now have diabetes, which is projected to increase to 592 million by 2035, and in Saudi Arabia itself, the prevalence of diabetes in 2014 was reported at 24% within adult population. Decreased food intakes, as well as certain diabetes medications, are risk factors for developing hypoglycemia. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can lead to serious medical problems including loss of consciousness, convulsions or seizures requiring emergency treatment. Another potential risk for people with type 2 diabetes who fast is hyperglycemia, which occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood and can be caused by an increase in food or sugar intake, or by an excessive reduction in dosages of diabetes medications. “Whether you're newly diagnosed or have lived with diabetes for a long time, it is important to control your blood sugar levels throughout the fasting period,” Dr. Mashoor Bin Nasser Al Hontoshi, Head of Health and Therapeutic Affairs department, Ministry of Health Riyadh. “It is a good idea to speak with your healthcare professional up to three months ahead of Ramadan, and consider making adjustments to your eating habits in order to reduce the risks associated with fasting.” A dedicated Ramadan application was also introduced by MSD as part of their ongoing commitment to supporting diabetics who choose to fast during the holy month. Developed specifically for iOS (Apple) and Android devices, this innovative application offers patients instant access to the “Facts About Fasting” information kit, and as well as providing a blood sugar tracking tool, which will enable fasting diabetics to record their glucose levels throughout Ramadan for discussion with their healthcare provider. The application also offers a Ramadan calendar for managing daily food intake and medication timing, a prayer compass, and prayer time alerts. The application can be downloaded for free via the iTunes App Store and the Android google play store. Dr. Medhat Riad, Managing Director at MSD Saudi Arabia, said “diabetes is one of the most serious conditions affecting people's health and productivity — but at the same time, using the right tools and strategies, patients can stay ahead of it. MSD is committed to providing Saudi patients with the resources to experience a safer Ramadan.” — SG
