Open AccessFasts, feasts and festivals in diabetes-1: Glycemic management during Hindu fasts
Author(s) -
Sanjay Kalra,
Sarita Bajaj,
Yashdeep Gupta,
Pankaj Agarwal,
SK Singh,
Sandeep Julka,
Rajeev Chawla,
Navneet Agrawal
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.456
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2230-9500
pISSN - 2230-8210
DOI - 10.4103/2230-8210.149314
Subject(s) - hinduism , medicine , glycemic , debriefing , diabetes mellitus , diabetes management , alternative medicine , medline , family medicine , medical education , type 2 diabetes , endocrinology , pathology , religious studies , philosophy , political science , law
This communication is the first of a series on South Asian fasts, festivals, and diabetes, designed to spread awareness and stimulate research on this aspect of diabetes and metabolic care. It describes the various fasts observed as part of Hindu religion and offers a classification scheme for them, labeling them as infrequent and frequent. The infrequent fasts are further sub-classified as brief and prolonged, to facilitate a scientific approach to glycemic management during these fasts. Pre-fast counseling, non-pharmacological therapy, pharmacological modification, and post-fast debriefing are discussed in detail. All available drug classes and molecules are covered in this article, which provides guidance about necessary changes in dosage and timing of administration. While in no way exhaustive, the brief review offers a basic framework which diabetes care professionals can use to counsel and manage persons in their care who wish to observe various Hindu fasts.