Building on the previous successes of their education and awareness initiatives, the National Diabetes Center team at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is launching a nationwide campaign – Diabetes and Ramadan: Fast Safely, Stay Healthy.
This initiative aims to educate people on diabetes, increase their knowledge of diabetes and empower them to control their health during Ramadan and even beyond. The campaign will also highlight strategies to manage and prevent lifestyle-related diabetes, including glucose monitoring, physical activity, nutrition, medication dose adjustment, and timings during Ramadan.
According to Dr Manal Musallam Othman, Director of Patient Education Medicine at HMC, diabetes is a complicated condition that can cause both immediate and life-threatening long-term complications.
As a result, education, prevention and diagnostic services remain at the frontline of the battle against diabetes and related chronic diseases and raising community awareness of healthy lifestyle practices during Ramadan is vital for ensuring safe fasting.
Fasting during Ramadan
For people with diabetes, choosing to fast throughout the holy month of Ramadan entails various potential difficulties. Numerous people with diabetes also deal with other associated complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, visual problems, and renal disease.
Healthcare experts advise those with diabetes to exercise regularly and consult their physicians and HCP before fasting. They should have detailed therapy recommendations, dietary modifications and a medical evaluation specific to their health condition.
Diabetes and Ramadan campaign
The campaign features several activities, including a workshop for the home healthcare staff to learn about the essential needs for efficient diabetes management. They can also expand their knowledge of fasting-related requirements, including glucose monitoring, physical activity, nutrition, medication dose adjustment, and timing in Ramadan.
The workshop programme covers all aspects of fasting during Ramadan for people with diabetes, focusing on interactivity and discussion and allowing home healthcare staff to learn from each other and interact with experts in the field to improve the home healthcare patient experience, maximise outcomes and ultimately improve the quality of life for patients.
Additionally, the campaign includes two educational lectures, Diabetes and Safe Fasting in Ramadan. While the first lecture will be delivered in Arabic and designed for Arabic speakers, the second lecture will be conducted in English.
Both lectures aim to ensure that people with diabetes receive proper glucose monitoring education and engage in regular physical activities. To better understand the nutrition and dose adjustment of their medications, including timing and receiving proper instructions to stay healthy and fast safely.
Along with these activities, a social media campaign will kick off one week before Ramadan and will run throughout the month to engage with the public.
Ramadan timings
The Hamad General Hospital diabetes hotline will operate from 7 am to 5 pm during Ramadan. For more details about diabetes, including suggestions for managing blood sugar during the holy month of Ramadan, visit hamad.qa. You can also follow HMC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the campaign.
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