‘Ramadan, Diabetes & Me’ app tracks blood glucose levels and easily reports to healthcare provider
MSD Pharmaceuticals (MSD India), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck & Co, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, USA, has launched a drive for safe fasting to help people with diabetes during the holy month of Ramadan. As part of its fight against diabetes, MSD has introduced a special app to help guide diabetics through fasting period with the help of blood sugar tracker and tips for diabetes management during the holy month of Ramadan.
The ‘Ramadan, Diabetes and Me’ app for iOS and Android users, is designed to address the challenges faced by millions of people with Type II diabetes who fast during Ramadan. While fasting during Ramadan is an important spiritual practice, diabetes patients need to take special precautions to avoid the risks of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), high blood glucose (hyperglycemia) and dehydration.
Diabetics while fasting face a high risk of hypoglycemia especially when they are on certain anti-diabetic drugs. Long gaps between food intake along with certain diabetes medications often cause glucose levels to drop, showing symptoms like sweating, dizziness and irritability. When severe, hypoglycemia can also result in mental confusion, antagonistic behaviours, unconsciousness, and even seizures, which makes it necessary to monitor the blood sugar level while fasting. The app offers a Random Blood Sugar (RBS) Tracker and also provides tips regarding diet, exercise and frequent monitoring of blood pressure which help patients to manage their Type II diabetes during fasting.
KG Ananthakrishnan, Managing Director, MSD India said, “The drive by MSD is in line with our comprehensive approach to address barriers to diabetes treatment and our commitment to patients. The Ramadan, Diabetes & Me app is an effort by MSD to better serve the interest of patients and communities by helping them better manage their diabetes during the holy month of Ramadan.”
The month-long changes in meal times, food, usage of medication and daily lifestyle can affect diabetics. With the use of this app, one can keep track of their blood glucose levels and at the same time also have important medical information handy. The purpose of the app is to help keep patients better controlled while they participate in the important spiritual practice.
The first free app on iOS and android is specially designed to help diabetics have a healthy and safe Ramadan. The app is available in three languages Hindi, English and Arabic. Random Blood Sugar (RBS) Tracker allows patients to easily report their RBS values to their health care provider. It provides tips regarding diet, exercise and frequent monitoring of blood pressure, daily prayer and sunset time, Qibla compass to locate prayer direction, based on the user’s location, information on when to break the fast during Ramadan, provides information on healthy eating habits, alarm setting for the beginning and conclusion of the daily fast (Suhr and Iftar) and questions to ask your healthcare providers in preparation for Ramadan.