Manchester’s diabetic Muslims will be visited by a health charity this week to raise awareness of the increased risk faced during Ramadan fasting.
Silver Star’s Stay Healthy during Ramadan road show will visit the Manchester Central Mosque tomorrow to make diabetics who wish to observe Ramadan aware of management options for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Dr Jonathan Valabhji, the newly appointed national Clinical Director for Obesity and Diabetes, gave a speech at the launch event on June 5 praising the campaign.
He said: “Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges we face today in the UK. The majority of the 2.6 million people diagnosed live with type 2 diabetes and people of South Asian descent are six times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared with the overall UK population.
“I applaud Silver Star’s efforts to provide practical support and information to those people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who may be planning to fast this summer.”
Manchester Central Mosque is one of eight mosques the Silver Star road show will be visiting, targeting Britain’s three million-strong Muslim population.
The charity’s mobile diabetes units and dedicated nurses will be on hand to offer free diabetes testing and advice.
Diabetic Muslims who fast are at additional risk of both hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia due to fluctuating blood sugar levels when breaking the fast.
The complications from these conditions can be severe, ranging from amputations, diabetic comas and diabetic retinopathy.
For more information visit www.silverstaruk.org
Picture courtesy of Ranoush via Flickr, with thanks
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