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5 Ways To Manage Diabetes During Ramadan Fast

Published

2 years ago

March 15, 2024

Ramadan, the holy month observed by Muslims worldwide, is a time of spiritual reflection, fasting, and community. For individuals with diabetes, managing blood sugar levels during this period can be challenging but not impossible.

With careful planning and attention to health needs, it’s possible to successfully navigate Ramadan while effectively managing diabetes.

Here are five essential strategies to help individuals with diabetes maintain their health during Ramadan fasting:

Prioritize consultation

Prior to Ramadan, individuals with diabetes should schedule a consultation with their healthcare provider, particularly their endocrinologist or diabetes specialist. During this appointment, discuss the intention to fast and develop a personalized plan tailored to individual health needs.

Healthcare providers can provide valuable insights into managing medications, adjusting insulin doses, and monitoring blood sugar levels during fasting hours. They can also offer guidance on maintaining overall health and managing potential complications.

Opt for Nutritious Suhoor and Iftar

Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, and Iftar, the meal to break the fast after sunset, play crucial roles in managing diabetes during Ramadan. Opt for balanced and nutritious meals that include complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of fiber.

Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables provide sustained energy release, helping to prevent rapid fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Additionally, avoid excessive consumption of sugary or processed foods during Suhoor and Iftar, as they can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels.

Watch hydration and fluid intake

Staying hydrated is essential for individuals with diabetes, especially during the fasting hours of Ramadan. Dehydration can exacerbate blood sugar fluctuations and increase the risk of complications.

Encourage adequate fluid intake during non-fasting hours, focusing on water, herbal teas, and hydrating foods such as fruits and vegetables. Limit consumption of caffeinated and sugary beverages, as they can contribute to dehydration.

Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water between Iftar and Suhoor to maintain optimal hydration levels.

Regular monitoring of blood sugar

Monitoring blood sugar levels regularly is crucial for individuals with diabetes, particularly during Ramadan fasting. Invest in a reliable blood glucose monitoring system and establish a routine for checking blood sugar levels throughout the day.

Keep track of blood sugar readings before Suhoor, after Iftar, and at regular intervals during fasting hours. Monitoring allows for timely adjustments to medication doses, dietary choices, and activity levels to maintain optimal blood sugar control.

If blood sugar levels fall outside the target range, follow the guidance provided by healthcare providers to address the issue promptly.

Moderate physical activity

Incorporating moderate physical activity into daily routines can help individuals with diabetes manage blood sugar levels effectively during Ramadan fasting. Engage in light exercises such as walking, stretching, or yoga during non-fasting hours to promote blood circulation and improve insulin sensitivity.

Avoid strenuous activities during fasting hours, as they can lead to dehydration and exhaustion. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day, scheduling sessions before Suhoor or after Iftar to maximize benefits while minimizing the risk of complications.

Repeat

Managing diabetes during Ramadan fasting requires careful planning, monitoring, and adherence to health guidelines.

By consulting with healthcare providers, consuming balanced meals, staying hydrated, monitoring blood sugar levels regularly, and incorporating moderate physical activity, individuals with diabetes can navigate Ramadan fasting safely and effectively.

Remember to prioritize health and well-being throughout the holy month, and seek support from healthcare professionals and community resources as needed. With proper management strategies in place, individuals with diabetes can observe Ramadan while maintaining optimal health and spiritual fulfillment.

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Serbia Indicts Ex-minister, 12 Others Over Train Station Tragedy

Published

20 hours ago

September 16, 2025

Editor

Serbian prosecutors filed an updated indictment on Tuesday against 13 people, including a former minister, over a fatal railway station roof collapse that has triggered a wave of anti-government protests.

The prosecution said all those indicted, among them former construction minister Goran Vesic, face charges of “serious crimes against public safety” over the tragedy that killed 16 people last November.

“The indictment proposes that the Higher Court in Novi Sad order custody for all the defendants,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

The roof collapse at the newly renovated station in Serbia’s second-largest city, Novi Sad, became a symbol of entrenched corruption and sparked almost daily protests.

Protesters first demanded a transparent investigation, but their calls soon escalated into demands for early elections.

The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad initially filed an indictment at the end of December, but judges returned it in April, requesting more information.

The accused were released or placed under house arrest following the decision.

The prosecutor’s office said it had complied with the judge’s request and had now completed the supplementary investigation.

The prosecutor specialising in organised crime and corruption in Belgrade is leading a separate, independent investigation into the tragedy.

That investigation is focused on 13 people, including Vesic and another former minister, Tomislav Momirovic, who headed the Construction Ministry before him.

In March, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) launched a third, separate investigation into the possible misuse of EU funds for the station’s reconstruction.

AFP

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Kazakhstan Bans Forced Marriage, Bride Kidnapping

Published

20 hours ago

September 16, 2025

Editor

Kazakhstan has banned forced marriages and bride kidnappings through a law that came into effect Tuesday in the Central Asian country, where the practice persists despite new attention being paid to women’s rights.

Forcing someone to marry is now punishable by up to 10 years in prison, Kazakh police said in a statement.

“These changes are aimed at preventing forced marriages and protecting vulnerable categories of citizens, especially women and adolescents,” it added.

Bride kidnappings have also been outlawed.

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“Previously, a person who voluntarily released a kidnapped person could expect to be released from criminal liability. Now this possibility has been eliminated,” the police said.

There are no reliable statistics of forced marriage cases across the country, with no separate article in the criminal code prohibiting it until now.

A Kazakh lawmaker said earlier this year that the police had received 214 such complaints over the past three years.

The custom is also present in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, where it mostly goes unpunished due to indifferent law enforcement and stigma surrounding whistleblowers.

The issue of women’s rights in Kazakhstan gained media attention in 2023 following the murder of a woman by her husband, a former minister, a case that shocked Kazakh society and prompted President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to react.

“Some people hide behind so-called traditions and try to impose the practice of wife stealing. This blatant obscurantism cannot be justified,” Tokayev said last year.

AFP

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Russia Arrests Woman For Detonating Bomb On Railway

Published

20 hours ago

September 16, 2025

Editor

Russia’s FSB security service said on Tuesday it had arrested a woman in her fifties accused of detonating explosives in a bid to sabotage the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The suspect was allegedly working on behalf of Ukrainian intelligence, the FSB said, in the latest incident of alleged covert activity during the countries’ conflict.

“In August 2025, following the instructions provided by the adversary, the suspect manufactured a homemade explosive device from publicly available components, placed it on the railway tracks and triggered it,” the Russian agency said.

“She recorded the moment of the explosion on her mobile phone camera and sent the footage as a report to the handler to receive a reward.”

The statement did not name the suspect but said she was born in 1974 and carried out the alleged attack in eastern Siberia’s Zabaikalsky region.

The FSB warned Russians that it was monitoring social networks and online messenger services such as Telegram and WhatsApp for evidence of Ukrainian services recruiting Russians to carry out sabotage.

Separately, the agency told state news agency TASS that a man had been sentenced to 18 years and six months for transporting explosives on behalf of a “pro-Ukrainian” group.

A resident of the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, had, the FSB said, established contact through the Telegram app with a banned “terrorist organisation”.

He allegedly retrieved explosives from a cache on the orders of this group before waiting for “further instructions”, according to the same source cited by TASS.

He was jailed by a military tribunal.

AFP