By Kabeer Yousuf — MUSCAT: May 13 - With the holy month of Ramadhan just round the corner, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has asked diabetics to take precautions by consulting a physician and ensuring they are fit to fast. In a statement to both citizens and expatriates, the ministry said it is important that diabetics determine their ability to fast as Ramadhan involves refraining from food and water for long hours. Only through consultation with a doctor will a diabetic be prepared to observe the fast that lasts for some 30 days. “It is very important to have a physician certify the medical condition of diabetics so that he/ she can fast. A doctor can also change medication pattern as per the patient’s needs,” said the ministry statement.
Insulin secretion in healthy individuals is stimulated through feeding, which promotes storage of glucose in liver and muscle as glycogen. Endocrinologists say that while fasting, glucose circulation levels tend to fall and this can lead to decreased secretion of insulin. As fasting stretches for several hours, the glycogen levels dip and the low levels of circulating insulin results in increased fatty acid release from adipocytes. “Oxidation of fatty acids generates ketones that can be used as fuel by skeletal and cardiac muscle, liver, kidney, and adipose tissue, thus sparing glucose for continued utilisation by brain and erythrocytes,” says Dr Thashli Thankachan, Specialist Physician at Aster.
A recent study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) says the Arab and Middle Eastern countries have a high rate of incidence of diabetes. The Sultanate too bears a high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes. Many studies have documented the distribution of risk factors related with NCDs in this country. WHO has predicted a 190 per cent rise in the number of people with diabetes in Oman in the next 20 years — from 75,000 in 2000 to 217,000 in 2025. “Diabetes is a disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces,” Jishy Seby, Diet Consultant at KIMS Oman.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
