Sanofi holds Ramadan workshop for diabetics

Sanofi, a global integrated health care, in collaboration with the Association of Diabetic Patient Friends in Jeddah, organized an intensive training workshop for diabetic patients and their families focusing on how to avoid diabetic complications while fasting.
Hundreds of diabetics and their families too part in the comprehensive workshop.
It dealt with how to simplify diabetes management during Ramadan, including dietary options treatment and challenges that diabetic patients face through the fasting month.
“Patients should pay special attention to their condition all year around and especially during Ramadan as they might become vulnerable to complications during fasting,” said Dr. Abdulrahman Alsheekh, consultant endocrinologist at King Abdul Aziz University, Soliman Fakeeh Hospital and head of the Saudi Scientific Diabetes Society.
“Patients need to be more vigilant and to follow the guidance given to them in how to have a healthy Ramadan, as several risks might occur due to changes in their eating patterns during Ramadan and might cause serious complications like hypoglycemia.”
Hyperglycemia needs to be managed and patients need to check their glucose levels 2 times while fasting and again while breaking their fast, he said.
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a major complication during fasting, especially in type I patients. Furthermore diabetic pregnant women, especially those with pregestational or gestational diabetes, will be at higher risk during fasting along with patients who already suffer from diabetic complications like kidney failure, eye complication and heart and hypertension.”
On the other hand, Dr. Salah Mousa, general manager of Sanofi Saudi Arabia, said: “Sanofi’s commitment is to listen to patients’ needs, part of that need is to educate diabetic patients on how to improve their quality of life, especially in the holy month of Ramadan.”