When must I as a diabetic patient break my fast? - Medical Benefits 27

When should a diabetic patient break their fast?

There are several critical medical conditions in which a fasting diabetic patient should stop fasting immediately to preserve their health. These conditions are as follows:

Firstly: Blood Sugar Level Disturbances

The fast should be broken in two contradictory situations regarding glucose levels:

• Severe increase: If blood sugar exceeds 300 mg/dL.
• Noticeable decrease: If blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dL, even if it is a very short time until iftar.

Secondly: Warning Readings at the Beginning of the Day

The patient should stop fasting if they check their blood sugar early in the day (a few hours after suhoor) and the reading is below 90 mg/dL, especially in the following cases:

• If the patient is taking medications that may cause hypoglycemia, such as insulin.
• If they are taking medications from the "sulfonylurea" group (e.g., Amaryl or Daonil); as it is expected that blood sugar levels will drop further with continued fasting, posing a risk to their life.

Thirdly: Dehydration

If the patient experiences symptoms of dehydration, they should stop fasting immediately; as dehydration increases the likelihood of diabetic patients developing blood clots due to increased blood viscosity and fluid deficiency in the body.