On the 25th of June 2022, Ehad Healthcare organised a comprehensive and interdisciplinary webinar on the contemporary topic of Hajj and Diabetes. This session was delivered by Dr. Karum Qamaruddin, a diabetes specialist with over 20 years of patient experience, and moderated by Ms. Afshan Ali on behalf of Ehad.
Dr. Qamaruddin’s talk started off by listing statistics related to the prevalence of diabetes globally, nationally, and among Hajj candidates, especially in light of the recent uplifting of Covid-19 restrictions. He then explored various precautionary, preventative, and management measures that should be taken by diabetic pilgrims in order to keep their condition stable. These included prior consultation with a physician, vaccination, medication dose adjustment, maintaining a routine and nutritious diet, carrying a glucometer, and fruits/sweets, and wearing comfortable socks or utilising a wheelchair, as necessary.
Ms. Afshan then transitioned into a Q&A segment, where she highlighted important questions from the audience, including, “how to monitor and manage changing sugar levels during Hajj,” “how to manage foot issues due to physical exertion,” “how helpful is prior and subsequent consultation with medical professionals,” “ whether patients with diabetes and kidney/heart disease are able to perform Hajj adequately.”
Dr. Qamaruddin explored each area in detail, before bringing the discussion back to an overarching message for each patient and person in general; that caring for and maintaining health and wellness is a religious duty and starts first and foremost with ourselves as individuals.
