Misperceptions about Diabetes, Instructions for Fasting during Ramadan

Dr. Mona Mamdouh, professor of Pediatrics, Diabetes and Endocrinology at the Children's hospital Abou EL Rish, said that there are popular misperceptions about Diabetes in the Egyptian society.

Mamdouh’s talk took place during a press conference held on Thursday at Sonesta Hotel after the 13th annual conference of the Egyptian Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ESPED).

Mamdouh stated that most of families prefer to delay the insulin treatment right after diagnosing the disease believing that this might stimulate the function of pancreas.

“This is a huge mistake and may lead to dangerous complications on the long run, as patients should start insulin treatment right they are diagnosed with Diabetes,” she added.

In contrary to what most people think, diabetes is a non-communicable disease, also, diabetics don’t have to follow specific diet but the normal healthy regime that all people must pursue.

Furthermore, for type 1diabetes, the primary and dispensable treatment is the insulin therapy and tablets might be taken just to increase treatment’s efficiency under special conditions like obesity.

During the adolescence period, the normal body insulin rate increases significantly, so diabetics have to increase their treatment dosage too.

On her part, Dr. Mona Salem, professor of Pediatrics, Diabetes and Endocrinology at Ain-Shams University and the conference president presented some important guidance for fasting in Ramadan.

“For kids and teenagers, it’s better not to fast at all as fasting may result in a sugar coma,” Salem stressed.

In case they insist to fast, they have to adjust sugar rate with a specified doctor 2 months before Ramadan.

During Ramadan, diabetics should change insulin dosages timings directly before fasting and not before sleeping.

Also, they have to measure blood sugar level from 6 to 10 times per day and whenever it’s found to be less than 70 or more than 200, they have to stop fasting immediately.

In the same context, speakers clarified that diabetes may appear in newborns during their first 6 months and its symptoms are represented in loss of appetite and sudden weight loss.

For kids, they may lose concentration, drink massive amounts of water and suffer from furuncles appearance and constant itching in different parts of their bodies.