Fasting during Navaratri needs careful planning for diabetics: Jamshedpur’s Dr. Ram Kumar

Jamshedpur, Sep 19: Navaratri, the nine-day festival of devotion and spiritual reflection, is celebrated with immense enthusiasm across the country. For many, it is also a period of fasting and dietary changes. However, for individuals with type 2 diabetes, the festival presents unique challenges that demand careful management of diet, lifestyle, and health practices.

“Navaratri is a time of devotion and discipline, but people with diabetes need to be extra cautious during fasting,” said Dr. Ram Kumar, a Jamshedpur-based physician. “Improper fasting or overeating after long gaps can cause serious fluctuations in blood sugar levels.”

The Challenge of Fasting with Diabetes

During Navaratri, devotees often abstain from regular grains and switch to fruits, vegetables, and flours like buckwheat or amaranth. While these foods may seem healthier, long hours without eating can lead to hypoglycemia, a dangerous drop in blood sugar that may cause dizziness, weakness, or even fainting. On the other hand, breaking the fast with heavy meals rich in carbs, fried snacks, or sweets such as sabudana vada and mithai may lead to hyperglycemia, a sudden spike in sugar levels.

Dr. Kumar explained, “The combination of prolonged fasting and then eating calorie-dense festival food is risky. It is important to maintain balance.”

A Mindful Approach to Food and Fasting

Health experts recommend smaller, frequent meals instead of prolonged fasting. Low glycemic index (GI) foods such as apples, guava, pears, bottle gourd, and cucumber help release glucose slowly into the bloodstream, ensuring stable sugar levels. Nutrient-rich flours like kuttu ka atta (buckwheat) and rajgira atta (amaranth) are excellent grain substitutes, while proteins from paneer, low-fat yogurt, and nuts add satiety and stabilize blood sugar.

“Choose foods that sustain you rather than spike your sugar,” Dr. Kumar advised. “Balanced meals with fiber, protein, and healthy carbs make all the difference.”

Beyond Diet: Key Health Practices

Apart from food choices, experts emphasize the importance of medical guidance and lifestyle care. Consulting a doctor before fasting allows for safe adjustments in medication or insulin doses. Hydration is another crucial factor—water, buttermilk, and coconut water should replace sugary juices or caffeinated drinks.

“Monitoring your sugar levels with a glucometer is non-negotiable,” Dr. Kumar stressed. “It is your best tool during fasting to detect sudden highs or lows.”

By combining mindful eating, hydration, regular monitoring, and medical consultation, people with diabetes can celebrate Navaratri with devotion while safeguarding their health.

“Faith and health should go hand in hand. With proper planning, you can enjoy the festival without compromising your wellbeing,” Dr. Kumar concluded.