Ramadan Fasting Help?

Question

Hello, I would like to try to fast for Ramadan this year. But the problem is, when I fast on other days, or go without eating, I get extremely sick, dizzy, and very shaky. My sugar went down to 33 one time when I didn't eat for 7 hours. Is there anything I can do to help these symptoms? Am I required to fast? Any help is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

This is my first year fasting, too.  Last year I couldn't do it because of illness.  There are different ways to deal with the dilemma.  It sounds like fasting effects your blood sugar level.  First of all, if it makes you sick to fast, you are not required to.  But I can see you want to do it.  God wants the way to Him to be easy so I'm thinking up some alternatives.  Maybe they will help you during Ramadan.

--- Please call your physician and see what he advises.  I know someone who hadn't eaten all day and fainted while driving.  You need to find the cause and remedy for the symptoms you get while fasting before you fast during Ramadan.

--- We are supposed to learn from fasting self-control and to work on more God-consciousness.   We are also supposed to fast so we can learn what it is like to suffer from poverty, sicknesses and hunger.  What else can you do to to achieve this during Ramadan?

--- What if you compromise.  Maybe you could eat only light meals during Ramadan (just enough to get you through without having the dizziness from not eating).  Or maybe only eat bread and a piece of fruit and a piece of cheese for Ramadan.

---  I have heard that you can offer food to the poor for each day you don't fast.  What if you buy cans of vegetables for each day of Ramadan and bring them to a food bank.  (generic would especially be affordable if you're on a tight budget)

---  Spend a lot of time in prayer, make du'a asking God to help you learn what we are meant to learn during Ramadan.

--- Fast from other things if you can't fast in the traditional way.  You could give up watching tv for Ramadan or something like that.

Answer 2

As a Muslim yes it is your duty to fast in the month of Ramadan. The only exceptions to this are the sick, pregnant or breastfeeding women or travelers. If you have a medical condition that is something that fasting would worsen or make you sicker then you are permitted to miss fasting and make it up in other ways eg paying for a sick person to eat each day you dont fast.

But i have to say if you are new to fasting the first few days are like that for most of us. It soon passes and fasting becomes very easy. Its a great reward from Allah to fast in this month and one of the Pillars of Islam.

Get checked out by your doctor that you are not diabetic etc and healthy to fast and if he/she says your fine to fast then just tough it out it gets easier i promise you. And when it comes time to break fast you will be pleased that you stuck with it.

Dont exert yourself to much the first few days, take it easy, eat and drink plenty before Fajr and try to be calm throughout the day. When that overwhelming feeling comes just take a few moments to be quiet, sit still and let it pass.

Peace to you and Insha Allah you will fast with no problems at all.

Answer 3

You should fast, but the best thing is to totally eat a lot of food at suhoor time. And drink lots of water at suhoor time, so your blood sugar level stays even because you've got enough food/starchy sugar in your body.

Answer 4

You need to discuss this with a Muslim doctor, who can give you advice related to your specific health situation.

Also, for suhoor, try to eat protein, high-fiber foods, and complex carbohydrates that will stay with you during the day.  Avoid salty and fried food, which can make you thirsty. Avoid sugary stuff for suhoor, because it can cause your blood sugar to fluctuate.  Take plenty of liquids for suhoor, and also be careful to drink enough after iftar and during the night to replenish the liquids you have lost.  Being dehydrated can make a person dizzy, too.

Many people find that a cup or two of plain yogurt at suhoor time reduces thirst, as well as hunger, during the day.

Taking a nap in the afternoon helps, too, especially if the day is long.

If fasting makes you ill, you have the right not to fast, but you will have to feed a poor Muslim for every day you miss.

Answer 5

Ramadan is the time i eat well. you should as well

Answer 6

Eat food, and pretend to fast, like most of us.

Answer 7

why don't you just take it slow?

try fasting for one day and if it makes you feel sick then dont

or just drink water but still fast

Answer 8

actually i don't stop eating at all during the month u just organize ur eating time and that essentially  for feel the pain of hunger that the poor feel it all the time and to live in inspired  state that ll help u in ur live ..... so u h just to keep on trying till u success in fasting the whole month  

Answer 9

aww sister dnt worry...

Allah (swt) is most merciful and anyone tht is sick can not fast....

Allah doesnt want to to suffer.... so if ur life is at risk as ur blood sugar goes down soo much then dnt fast.... but really try to tak eit slowly and eat good things in the morning...

eat things like porride and bananas and a few dates.. theyg ive u grate energy...

also dnt have to much for breakfast... becuase ur stomach will expand and then u will be even more hungry afterwards so even though u may be tempted to eat so much at breakfast try not to :D

hope this helps

jazakh Allah khair