Apollo offers free check-up for diabetics ahead of Ramadan

Apollo Sugar of the Apollo Hospital group on Tuesday offered free consultation on controlling diabetes to Muslims fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

"As extreme fasting may cause complications in diabetic patients, our doctors checked and treated Muslims ahead of the Ramadan fasting month," Apollo Sugar Clinics consultant Raja Selvarajan told reporters here.

Complications such as impaired vision, kidney and heart diseases and aggravated blood pressure could occur in diabetic patients for fasting long.

"Our Ramadan diabetes education workshop included free screening and diet prescription for the fasting month to create awareness on the importance of maintaining good metabolism and blood sugar levels to prevent the risk of hypoglycemia and dehydration," Selvarajan said.

Day-long fasting is observed during the holy ninth month of the Islamic calendar to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Mohammad.

Of the 300 patients tested, 150 were found to have good diabetic control, while the rest were diagnosed with poor control of the disease, Selvarajan noted.

The workshop had four pre-Ramadan activities, including screening, education on diet and physical activity, diabetic monitoring and medication.

"During Ramadan, a different criterion of medication is followed wherein a patient takes medication once or twice a day. The pattern will be optimised and changed post-Ramadan after another round of check-up," Selvarajan said.