ShareKUWAIT: Kuwait Diabetes Society (KDS) organized an awareness day on the occasion of the upcoming month of Ramadan at The Avenues Mall. The event included blood sugar and blood pressure tests and nutrition and medical advice. Doctors were at hand and answered the public’s questions, particularly those with diabetes.
KDS president, endocrinologist and head of the endocrine fellowship in Kuwait Dr Walid Al-Dhahi said diabetes is a chronic disease that remains with the patient all their life and requires improvement in lifestyle, besides complying with instructions and taking medicines as prescribed on time. He said statistics and studies show the prevalence of diabetes in Kuwait is 23 percent and this raises a red flag. He said 95 percent of cases are of type 2 diabetes, adding the disease may be accompanied by obesity, high cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Dhahi said nearly 148 million Muslims are living with the disease, adding fasting improves diabetes and most diabetics can fast except in certain cases, such as:
- Those who suffered hypoglycemia repeatedly during the three month preceding Ramadan.
- Those who suffer from other chronic problems such as heart, eye, nerve and liver diseases.
- Those treated with multiple injections during the day.
- Type 1 diabetes patients.
- Pregnant women with diabetes.
Dhahi said 78 percent of type 2 diabetics fast half of the month of Ramadan, while 43 percent of type 1 patients also fast half of the month, adding that it is highly important to see the doctor before Ramadan to make sure whether the patient can fast or not.
By Abdullatif Sharaa
