Tips for diabetics who plan to fast during Navratri

Follow these tips if you want to control your diabetes during Navratri.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com 

Navratri is here and people celebrate this festival with joy.

It is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of India.

Fasting during Navratri is considered very sacred and it is done to propitiate Goddess Durga and seek her blessings.

Apart from the religious aspect of it, even scientifically it helps purify the body through flushing out of excess toxins.

However, diabetic patients, who wish to keep a fast, must take special care.

Dr Pankaj Aggarwal, senior homeopathy physician from Agrawal Homeo Clinic shares some tips to control diabetes during Navratri.

For diabetic patients, it is not advisable to take long breaks.

In fact, you should take some food after short durations. By doing so, you'll be maintaining your blood glucose levels.

The fast should be broken if your blood sugar is less than 70 mg per precentage in the first few hours after the start of the fast.

Diabetic patients could have slow absorbing foods, which have low glycemic index, before you begin the fast.

These types of foods keep your blood glucose level more even during the course of the fast.

During the course of the fast, if you feel less energetic, avoid having too much tea or coffee.

Rather, drink plenty of water and sugar-free beverages like lemonade, coconut water and buttermilk throughout the day.

During fast, diabetic patients should consumer foods like roasted phool makhana and peanuts, paneer, water chestnuts (singhara), pumpkin raita and kheera raita.

Amaranth flour can be used for making chapatis. Potato should not be used for consumption.

It is recommended to check your blood sugar levels a few times during the day if you are fasting.

Diabetic patients who are taking insulin may have to adjust the dose of their insulin as the requirement of insulin may reduce up to 4 per cent.