Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



MSD committed to support people with Type 2 diabetes to have safer Ramadan
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 06 - 2015

Dr. Mashoor Bin Nasser Al Hontoshi, Head of Health and Therapeutic Affairs department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh and Dr. Iman Shisha, head of Diabetes Center in King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Hospital Riyadh during the launch of MSD Saudi Arabia's ‘The Facts about Fasting During Ramadan' program


RIYADH – MSD, known as Merck in the United States and Canada, has launched new interactive, educational resources and a dedicated Ramadan application to help people with type 2 diabetes in the Kingdom who choose to fast during Ramadan.
“MSD Saudi Arabia has organized an awareness and activities program targeted at Health care Practitioners for their Continuous Medical education (CME) in collaboration with other health and therapeutic programs department in the general directorate of health affairs in Riyadh region.”
The “Facts About Fasting During Ramadan” program recognizes the potential challenges of fasting when you have diabetes, including variations in blood sugar levels as a result of changes in eating patterns.
The program encourages people preparing to fast to visit their healthcare professional up to three months ahead of Ramadan, and develop a diabetes management plan which will help control their blood sugar levels during the holy month.
According to diabetes guidelines from religious and medical organizations, some people with diabetes maybe exempt from religious fasting because of the increased risks of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), thrombosis and dehydration. However, more than 50 million people with diabetes worldwide make the personal decision to fast during Ramadan.
This number is expected to rise with the increasing worldwide prevalence of diabetes. Recent figures from the International Diabetes Federation state that an estimated 387 million people worldwide now have diabetes, which is projected to increase to 592 million by 2035, and in Saudi Arabia itself, the prevalence of diabetes in 2014 was reported at 24% within adult population.
Decreased food intakes, as well as certain diabetes medications, are risk factors for developing hypoglycemia. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can lead to serious medical problems including loss of consciousness, convulsions or seizures requiring emergency treatment.
Another potential risk for people with type 2 diabetes who fast is hyperglycemia, which occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood and can be caused by an increase in food or sugar intake, or by an excessive reduction in dosages of diabetes medications.
“Whether you're newly diagnosed or have lived with diabetes for a long time, it is important to control your blood sugar levels throughout the fasting period,” Dr. Mashoor Bin Nasser Al Hontoshi, Head of Health and Therapeutic Affairs department, Ministry of Health Riyadh.
“It is a good idea to speak with your healthcare professional up to three months ahead of Ramadan, and consider making adjustments to your eating habits in order to reduce the risks associated with fasting.”
A dedicated Ramadan application was also introduced by MSD as part of their ongoing commitment to supporting diabetics who choose to fast during the holy month.
Developed specifically for iOS (Apple) and Android devices, this innovative application offers patients instant access to the “Facts About Fasting” information kit, and as well as providing a blood sugar tracking tool, which will enable fasting diabetics to record their glucose levels throughout Ramadan for discussion with their healthcare provider.
The application also offers a Ramadan calendar for managing daily food intake and medication timing, a prayer compass, and prayer time alerts.
The application can be downloaded for free via the iTunes App Store and the Android google play store. Dr. Medhat Riad, Managing Director at MSD Saudi Arabia, said “diabetes is one of the most serious conditions affecting people's health and productivity — but at the same time, using the right tools and strategies, patients can stay ahead of it.
MSD is committed to providing Saudi patients with the resources to experience a safer Ramadan.” — SG


Clic here to read the story from its source.