Spicy food poses problems to expats’ health in Ramadan

The Kingdom has been witnessing an increased number of health issues among expatriates from South Asian countries during Ramadan thanks to their penchant for spicy food, coupled with a low intake of water.
Expatriates from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are very fond of traditional spicy foods such as “pakodas” and “bondas” made with chickpea flour and spices and deep fried. This has resulted in more incidents of gastric problems, Dr. Shameed Kassim, an internist at the Al-Abeer Medical Group, told Arab News.
Maintaining a balanced diet, he says, “Will help in preventing health issues from cropping up during Ramadan,” adding that kidney problems were also on the increase among many expatriates in the Kingdom. “Since fluid intake is not sufficient during sahoor, expatriates face kidney problems and urinary tract infection (UTI),” he said.
Kasim also expressed concern over the majority of diabetic patients in the Kingdom fasting during the holy month and hence exposing themselves to hypoglycemia and dehydration. Such symptoms can be avoided by regularly monitoring blood sugar levels and adjusting the timings and dosage of medicines, he said.
“The increased risk of hypoglycemia caused by fasting can be severe and even life-threatening for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. Hence it is important for patients to follow a customized management plan in consultation with their doctors,” he said, pointing out that during the hours of fasting, blood glucose levels tend to drop due to decreased insulin secretion.
Kasim said that diabetics are unaware of the sugar content in many of the food items they consume and that there is a tendency to overeat during in the evening during Ramadan. Diabetics should avoid consuming foods rich in carbohydrates and fat, especially when breaking the fast and should drink plenty of fluids between iftar and sahoor to avoid dehydration, he said.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 percent of diabetes cases in Saudi Arabia. Usually, the disease either results from or is exacerbated by unhealthy dietary habits, lack of exercise and high prevalence of obesity. Such key factors have resulted in diabetes becoming a silent killer.
The prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom has reached alarming level, with over 25 percent of the adult population suffering from it and this figure being expected to more than double by 2030. Half of patients over 30 years of age are prone to diabetes. Saudi Arabia has the second highest rate of diabetes in the Middle East and is seventh highest in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).