Fasting is part of faith and culture for many families in Hyderabad and across India, and it is a very personal choice. My role as a doctor is not to stop you, but to help you fast without harming your health.
Talk to your doctor first
Ideally, 1 to 2 months before the festival or Ramadan, meet your doctor. Together, you plan the medicine timing, doses and sugar checks. Many people on insulin or sulfonylureas need changes, as the usual doses can cause low sugar when meals are missed.
Who should be extra careful?
- People on insulin, especially several times a day.
- People who have had low sugar attacks or severe sugar swings.
- Pregnant women with diabetes.
- People with kidney, heart or liver disease.
- Very old people or those who are unwell.
Safe fasting tips
- Have a proper pre-dawn meal with protein, fibre and slow carbohydrates such as dal, eggs, vegetables, whole grains and curd.
- Break the fast with water and a light meal. Avoid a big, sugary, fried feast.
- Drink plenty of water between the fast-breaking and the pre-dawn meal.
- Keep up light activity, but avoid heavy exercise during fasting hours.
- Check sugar when you feel unwell, and at other times as advised. A finger prick does not break a fast in most religious opinions; please ask your own scholar if unsure.
Break the fast if
- Sugar falls below 70 mg/dL, or below 90 if you are on insulin and falling.
- Sugar goes above 300 mg/dL.
- You feel very dizzy, confused or have severe weakness.
Faith and health together
Most faiths allow exemptions for illness. If your doctor advises you not to fast, you can ask your religious leader about alternatives. Your health is a trust too.
If you live in Gopanpally, Gowlidoddi, Nallagandla or Tellapur, or work in the Financial District or Nanakramguda, a simple blood sugar check is available at our clinic in Gopanpally, Gachibowli. You can read more about our diabetes care or contact us to book a visit.
Keep reading
Your family doctor,
Akhila Reddy
MBBS, DNB (Family Medicine) | TSMC Reg. No. APMC/FMR/74261
AMC Hospital, Gopanpally, Gachibowli, Hyderabad
This article is for general health education and does not replace a check-up. Every person is different, so please speak to your doctor before changing any medicine. In an emergency, call 108 or go to the nearest hospital.
References
- Hassanein M et al. Diabetes and Ramadan: Practical guidelines. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2017;126:303-316.
- International Diabetes Federation and DAR International Alliance. Diabetes and Ramadan: Practical Guidelines. 2021. https://idf.org
- American Diabetes Association. Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care 2025;48(Suppl 1). https://diabetesjournals.org/care/issue/48/Supplement_1