Navratri 2024: How To Manage Blood Sugar Level Fluctuations During This Navratri

1. Navigating Navratri Fasting: The Navratri festival often involves fasting. Fasting is part of the festival, for the most part, but can be hard for diabetics. Still, if they plan appropriately, it is achievable for such persons to fast without abrupt changes in their sugar levels. (Image Source: Canva)

2. Dietary Changes For Maintaining Blood Sugar Levels: Including garbanzos, buckwheat, rajgiri or sama together with other carbohydrate rich foodstuffs can help in giving all the energy needed without really stressing the blood glucose levels. It is difficult to do prolonged fasting, so eating of ghee, butter, low fat yogurt, paneer or tofu and fibrous vegetables together is wise. Sugar, confectionary, jaggery, packaged food, beverage, fresh fruit juice and other rich in calorie foods which mean level of blood glucose will increase rapidly should be avoided. (Image Source: Pinterest/diabetesmealplans)

3. How Diabetics Can Practice Fasting: People with diabetes should change their fasting approach. Instead of fasting for long durations, they can have more meals or snacks in smaller portions. It is necessary to follow the prescribed medications and monitor the blood glucose levels even during fasting since levels can be highly erratic. (Image Source: Canva)

4. The Need For Fluids: To prevent dehydration, proper fluid intake is important as fasting might lead to stressful blood sugar levels. While some foods may be a source of fluids, carbonated and sweetened drinks must be avoided. (Image Sorce: Canva)

5. Assessing The Signs Of Dehydration: Exhaustion, disorientation, eye blurriness, and headaches are some clinical signs of very high or low blood glucose levels. Identifying these conditions is crucial, and in the event of fasting, it would be prudent to end the fast and take in something that restores glucose levels such as a fruit or glucose tablets, or seek medical help. (Image Sorce: Canva)

Inputs By: Dr. Anu Gaikwad, Consultant Diabetologist & HOD Geriatric Medicine, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune (Image Sorce: ABPLIVE AI)