KARACHI: Health and medical science experts believed that people with diabetes were no longer at health risks while fasting during Ramazan.

They advised the diabetics of following a healthy routine in the holy month so they could f ast without f acing dif ficulties due to a lack of awareness about how to cope with their illness while f asting.

Speaking at the 8th International Diabetes and Ramazan Conference 2022, the professionals were of the view thatfasting was a form of devotion and it favours in human health. Now, better medicines and insulin were available to help people with diabetes to f ast safely without getting into any trouble with their health.

Prof Dr Abdul Basit, a diabetologist and general secretary of the Diabetes Association of Pakistan (DAP), said that just over a decade ago 90 per cent of the medical practitioners were not allowing people with diabetes to fast but research and studies proved that most of the diabetics could easily fast just by adjusting their medicines and timings of insulin in consultation with their physicians.`We then decided to collect scientific evidence to see if people with chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and obesity could fast safely or not as over 90pc of people are suffering from either of these conditions. A lot of work in this regard is still required to be done but researches show that many people with these illnesses can f ast,` he said.

The organising secretary of the two-day conference, Prof Yaqoob Ahmedani, said they were holding awareness activities for the doctors and people since 2008. Because of such ef forts, millions of people can safelyfastandperformHaj,Umrahwithout any health concerns.

`Requesting Muslims not to use chronic illnesses as `an excuse` to refrain from fasting in Ramazan, renowned scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani said, adding that physicians could be the best persons to advise whether a person should f ast or not.

`Latest researches have shown that most of the people with diabetes can fast. Fasting is beneficial for most diabetics in helping control the disease. Patients should not hide behind the Islamic concession, which has given to those whose health can deteriorate if they fast,` he added.