Many diabetic children want to fast during the holy month of Ramadan. But, according to Islam, fasting shouldn't jeopardise people's health. In the meantime, there are a lot of things people don't know about diabetes in children. For example, it was thought that only diabetes type 1 affected children, but now there are children aged between 10 and 14 years suffering from diabetes type 2. According to Dr Sameh Abdel-Shakour, an Egyptian consultant in abdominal diseases and endocrine glands, many studies have remarked on this, adding that children develop diabetes type 2 because of obesity. As for diabetes type 1, children develop this complaint when the pancreas cells become unable to discharge the insulin needed by normal children. Up to 85 per cent of these cells are completely destroyed, according to Dr Abdel-Shakour. "Children who need up to two doses of insulin per day shouldn't fast during Ramadan, because the fasting lasts for more than 12 hours and they might lapse into a coma," he warns. “A child who needs less than two doses of insulin per day is classified as a type 2 diabetic, needing only one dose of insulin and some other medications. “For such a child, who is obese, fasting is good, because it helps him lose weight, as he'll consume less junk food and fewer fizzy drinks.” But Dr Abdel-Shakour says that a diabetic child suffering from a low blood sugar level should not fast, because he could lapse into a coma. Symptoms of low blood sugar include trembling, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, sweating and blurred vision. A child's blood sugar level may fall, if he takes more insulin than he needs. Another reason is if the child exerts himself more than usual, eats less food than usual, catches cold or is suffering from exam-related stress, he adds. If these symptoms appear, Dr Abdel-Shakour says the child's parents should give him glucose, table sugar or juice. “There are no accurate statistics about how many children have diabetes in Egypt, but it could be 10 per cent of all Egyptian diabetics. Diabetes type 2 is on the rise among children due to their obesity, spending a lot of time in front of a computer and taking little exercise,” he comments. Dr Abdel-Shakour says that, if a mother doesn't breastfeed her babies, they may become diabetics, adding that he'll treat any diabetic child free of charge at his clinic. He urges mothers of diabetic children to make them do sport for at least half an hour a day, whether they're suffering from diabetes type 2 or type 1. Nutritionists recommend that diabetics should eat plenty of cereals rich in fibre, that increases the natural insulin in the human body and reduces the cholesterol level. Vegetables and fruits are also very good for diabetics, because they also contain fibre and are highly nutritious. Cabbage, artichokes, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots and guavas are particularly useful, while apples are the best fruit of all for diabetics, because they regulate the blood glucose level.
