Jamia alumni organizes lecture on diabetes in Ramadan

A local expert has warned that Muslims fasting during Ramadan need to take adequate precautions to safeguard their health especially if they suffer from diabetes.
Dr. Musharraf Ali of Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Mishari Hospital said diabetes management is more essential in Ramadan to ensure fasting patients don't end up with problems such as low blood pressure, low sugar and fainting.
Musharraf was delivering a lecture organized by Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association (JMIAA), Riyadh chapter, on the occasion of its annual iftar get-together in Riyadh recently.
The lecture was attended by over 100 alumni, businessmen, guests, and prominent members of the Indian community.
In his lecture, Musharraf emphasized diabetes has “assumed epidemic proportions.”
He warned: “Diabetics must be extra careful during Ramadan due to the changed pattern of food intake.
“Fasting for 15 to 16 hours presents a stiff challenge for patients, but if managed well, moderate cases of diabetes can surmount the challenge of fasting.”
He advised healthy people to avoid deeply fried items.
He advised diabetes patients to monitor their sugar levels as sharp spikes or falls in glucose causes more damage.
Abdul Mateen Nadwi also spoke on the religious and spiritual significance of fasting.
He said main aim of fasting is to instill in oneself the fear of Allah.
He said: “God does not want us to starve; rather he wants us to cleanse our souls.”
Welcoming the guests, JMIAA President Khursheed Anwar wished the audience a happy Ramadan.
He expressed his happiness at the response of alumni who turned out in large numbers.
He welcomed new members who have joined the alumni association recently.
He presented a memento to Suhail Iqbal, a senior Jamiaite and JMIAA executive member who is leaving the Kingdom for good.
JMIAA General Secretary Zafar A. Bari said the iftar program was designed to touch upon spiritual, medical and organizational issues.
He said JMIAA tends to make its programs meaningful and goal oriented.
Syed Aftab Ali Nizami, JMIAA vice president, urged members to help maintain the alumni directory by filling in the relevant forms.
JMIAA Treasurer Abdur Rahman compered the program.
JMIAA Joint Secretary Naushad Alam presented a vote of thanks to the guests and audience.
Prominent Jamiaites present were Dr. Shafaatullah Khan, Salman Azmi, Mohammad Shahbuddin, Chaudhry Ehsam Azim, and past presidents Murshid Kamal and Atiqurrehman.
Also present were Mohammad Najeeb Qasmi, former vice president Laeeque Ahmad and Arshad Bari.
The program began with a recitation of the Holy Quran by Imtiaz Nadwi.