For those who engage in any type of fasting, whether it’s intermittent fasting or fasting for religious reasons such as Ramadan (today is the 1st day of fasting for many Muslims) how have you managed to do this safely and alongside your cocktail of meds?
In the South Asian community, diabetes is very common. We also seem to have a higher prevalence of Type 2 diabetes as well when compared to the general population. Although I do not have diabetes myself, I find that many people within my community still choose to fast in the month of Ramadan despite being what I would say, moderately to severely diabetic. They also tend to be less open to consulting their GP or physician and 90% of the time, probably fast without their knowledge.
I appreciate everyone’s circumstances are different and a medical opinion/approval is needed in some cases.
Just an FYI, Muslims cannot drink or eat from sunrise to sunset. It will be roughly 14-16 hours of fasting in the U.K. this year for those who do observe their fasts for 30 days.
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Tos92
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I don’t have any personal experience of fasting as such but I do sometimes have struggles with eating regularly.
I find that my heart struggles because of the drop in my blood pressure and then increase in my heart rate too. It can make me feel very weak and dizzy.
Also, the evening is usually when your metabolism slows down so it’s likely to put a greater load on your heart as it tries to support your body with digestion - especially if trying to eat a large meal.
My advice would be to speak with your GP, they will support you to take part in Ramadan safely, if they can I’m sure.
There are circumstances where you can be exempt from fasting I believe; I know that the idea may feel disappointing but there are other ways you could still enjoy Ramadan and feel close to Allah.
Maybe you could look for some opportunities to help within your community instead?
Please accept my apologies if this doesn’t feel helpful for you.
I remember prior to my heart attack in 2022, I used to feel quite dizzy and weak during Ramadan for the first week or so, but this quickly resolved during the last couple of weeks of fasting as my body adjusted.
I have spoken to my GP, and you can guess what they said 🙈. It feels a little bit frustrating and disappointing considering I’ve been advised against fasting since my HA and I didn’t think it would continue this long. I thought it was a short-term type of a thing and I could transition back to fasting like I used to, but that doesn’t feel like the case now as I had been fasting for well over a decade in the month of Ramadan when I had my HA.
Yes, that’s right. I am considered exempt from fasting. Where Muslims are unable to fast in the holy month, we are required to feed the poor for however many days we cannot fast for. In my case, it would be 30 days and I make a monetary donation, plus add a little bit extra so they can buy themselves something nice for Eid when the fasting is over.
I just miss being a part of it.
I know some people fast for health reasons as opposed to religious reasons, so I would be interested to hear how they do that safely whilst having a heart condition or otherwise.
How have you been keeping? I hope the kids are doing well.
you could try an adapted version of fasting on some days, allowing yourself water and one or two light snacks of something basic like a date or two - taking the refreshment when not in company - not in a secretive way, but out of respect for others
you could start you fast after a mid morning refreshment, or whatever time suits you, then fast until the evening to be inline with others
make it your own way of fasting and find other ways of helping your community as you suggest - this about your own faith and how you live it, it should not be a punishment or damaging to you
Hi TosI don't know about Ramadan , where you fast during the day and eat and drink in the evening. It sounds difficult not even drinking during the day.
I do know that when I have tried prolonged fasting ,where I didn't eat for 3 days I got really bad angina . I don't know why but I think the heart has to work harder somehow. However I was drinking plenty of water.
Often I will fast for one day a week and eat a hearty soup in the evening . I drink during the day sometimes just water sometimes a smoothie. This seems to have no detrimental effect on my heart but it's not consecutive days.
It's a shame not to take part in fasting for Ramadan but then on the other hand it would probably be worse if you made yourself feel really unwell.
Thanks for responding and sharing your experience with fasting.
It’s good to know that drinking whilst you are fasting has no detrimental effects on your health. If I had this option, I think I would definitely try it but as you know, it’s not permissible in the month of Ramadan to drink either.
Whilst religious duties are important, it should not be performed at all cost. If it is detremental to your health - then it is better not to do it at all. Finally, listen to your body - if fasting is causing any negative changes in your body then it is better not to do it at all.
But then again - I know some people that will do it at all cost, despite their health not allowing.
It’s a difficult one when our health gets in the way of what’s extremely important to us whatever that may be including religion.
I don’t know what Ramadan is specifically for I..e why do people fast but I know it’s an important part of your religion.
I wouldn’t even begin to understand how not being able to or being advised not to fast makes you feel.
If it’s about abstaining, could you abstain in some other way like say watching TV / social media etc and using the time to read / learn / pray? Devotion can be undertaken in many different ways?
It’s just a thought but I appreciate how fundamentally our health can affect all parts of our lives.
Hope you find a solution that both reconciles with your belief and wanting to participate versus keeping you as well as can be.
Yes, I am taking on more volunteering activities this month and donating to more causes. Praying is a fundamental pillar in my religion, so it’s always something that I have strived to improve, including the reading/learning aspect of things which will continue this month.
I guess having two years away from it has made me miss it and I know some do fast for health reasons and not always for religious reasons. It would be good to know how people fast safely whilst having a health condition.
It feels particularly disappointing this year not being able to fast considering what has been going on in the world since October last year. I won’t delve into much here incase it is seen as political or offensive. Although we fast to abstain, we also do it to show solidarity and empathise with people less fortunate than us who do not have the means or resources like us.
Hopefully come next year, I’ll be in a better position to fast.
It's Lent for Christians at the moment. Some Christians fast too or give up eating meat, that's why it's traditional to eat fish on a Friday. We also pray for peace.
Hi Tos, I would think fasting may be ok as long as you remain hydrated, if you don’t have diabetes. Do you normally take your medications with food? The affects on blood pressure would be what I would be concerned about but I don’t really understand the physiology so I can only offer an opinion. Could you talk to your pharmacist?
I do take one of my medications with food. I think it would be a case of either taking it at sunset, or sunrise. I am on a calcium channel blocker which already has some impact on my BP, but not too much.
We cannot drink until sunset, so hydration might be an issue.
Pharmacist will not go against the advice of my doctor unfortunately.
I do intermittent fasting every day (eating period from 11am-6pm, fasting from 6pm to 11am). I have done this for years with no I'll effects at all other than the first week of adjustment. During that week, I felt a bit more tired, cranky, but no heart issues at all. I have also done a three day water fast and not had issues. I did have to drink some electrolyte water though, or it didn't go well and I felt awful. Let me know if you have other questions.
I have just looked at your bio and seen that you do suffer with arrhythmias. Do you find the intermittent or water fasting makes these worse? I know you said no heart issues at all with the fasting.
Can I also ask whether you take your medication whilst carrying out your water fasting? If so, does this have any impact in terms of acidity build up?
The intermittent fasting definitely does not make it worse. The water fasting was a little tougher. I had to get some electrolyte powder to drink with some extra magnesium. I took my meds just fine but don't take many, so that helps!
I found this article in the BHF related to Ramadan and fasting.
Whilst religion is important to people, so is health and from what I glanced at the below article written in conjunction with the Islamic Medical Association takes the same view.
Thanks for your reply and for attaching the article. I didn’t think to check the BHF and they do have some good suggestions on there.
I’ve just read if people with diabetes don’t take their medication at a regular time, it could make their symptoms worse. I don’t have diabetes, but I know it has a high prevalence in my community. My father’s diabetes has progressed to the point where he now needs to take insulin but he still chooses to fast. I think I will have a firm word with him tonight but nonetheless, I can’t imagine him giving up his fasts as it’s such a fundamental part of our religion.
I am a type 3c diabetic ( from damaged pancreas, so more like type 1 than 2) and take two types of insulin daily, and also fast 16 hours daily. I find I can regulate my blood glucose (BG) levels well both with and without food, and eating like this is not frowned upon by the professional/ medical diabetes community. Does your father has a continuous blood glucose monitor like Libre 2, that would show him how his BG dips or rises? My intermittent fasting allows drinking of water, and green tea or black coffee, which is relevant to my heart/ circulation problems ( a combo of PoTS/ postural hypotension/ hypertension) where I need to keep well hydrated to keep blood volume maximised. I don’t know how blood volume relates to many forum members with history of heart attacks etc etc.
I am not sure whether my father does have a BG monitor. I know he has a blood sugar monitor where he uses a lancet to prick his finger and places it on a strip test. Is that the same thing as a BG monitor? Apologies for my ignorance. I don’t live with my father so I only know as much as he tells me. I will be asking him about the BG monitor. He was telling me this morning that his blood sugar had dropped quite a lot. When his not fasting, his blood sugar is high. I wonder if fasting can contribute to large drops in blood sugar?
hi, it sounds like your father is just pricking his finger to test BG when he feels like it and not got a continuous BG ( CBG) monitor stuck on his arm permanently ( well for 2 weeks till replaced). I think he is probably right that his BG is better generally when fasting, but he might be getting too low at times, or conversely too high on breaking his fast especially if he heads for the barfi, breads and rice etc rather than meat or egg curries. He might find using a CBG monitor like the Freestyle Libre 2 helps him, he might now be eligible on the NHS ( especially if he explains his fasting) to get one now he is insulin dependent too dependent on his HbA1c results, but he could also get one free online direct from Abbotts the manufacturers. Meanwhile happy Ramadan.
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