OBSERVER REPORT
COVID-19 patients who have no symptoms of the viral disease and are even diabetics, can keep fast during the upcoming month of Ramadan in consultation with their physicians but they should practice social distancing, stay at home, drink plenty of water after Iftar and take their medicines regularly, national and international experts said on Sunday. Referring to Diabetes And Ramadan (DAR) guidelines, national and international health experts said there are thousands of COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic and are being kept in home isolation in entire Pakistan and other countries of the world, who can keep fast safely but advised them to remain in touch with their physicians, take their medicines regularly and remain hydrated after Iftaar till Sehri or Suhoor. They were speaking at the second day of 6th International Diabetes and Ramadan Online Confer ence, organized by Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology (BIDE), Karachi. Leading health experts, including diabetologists, cardiologists, neurologists, as well as Islamic scholars and Ulema from various countries of the world participated in the online conference and delivered lectures on safe fasting, especially in the month of Ramadan, which is coming at a time when entire world in in the grip of pandemic COVID-19. In his special address to the participants of the international conference, eminent Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani said this Ramadan was very special keeping in view the pandemic situation and Muslims in entire world were looking towards health experts and practitioners for guidance on safe fasting.Mufti Taqi Usmani said among those millions of Muslims, there was a large number of people who were suffering from various diseases including diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases and many of them want to keep fast but they need both religious as well as medical advice on whether they could keep fast or not. “There are extreme views that people with diabetes and hypertension should not keep fast while others say, they can keep fast.
