August 18, 2017
Paryushan is an important Jain festival celebrated in the month of August or September. Paryushan means “abiding, coming together”. The duration of Paryusan is for eight days for Swetambar jains and ten days for jains belonging to the Digambara sect.
During Paryushan, Jains observe a fast. The span of the fast can last from a day to 30 days or even more.
Jainism discourages fasting in diabetics, pregnant women, other patients taking medications. Before any fasting, consulting a doctor is recommended as fasting can interfere with health in aforementioned cases.
WHO CAN FAST SAFELY DURING PARYUSHAN?
- Whose sugar levels are normal can fast during Paryushan.
- Those who are on insulin should consult your doctor and make necessary insulin dose adjustments.
- Type 2 diabetics can fast safely if their HBA1C is normal i.e. less then 6.5%.
- Whose blood sugars are more then 250- 300mg/dl are not advised to fast and are advised to visit doctor to make necessary changes in the medication and diet.
SHOULD BREAK THE FAST IF-
- You have Hypoglycemic or Hyperglycemic sypmtoms such as weakness, feeling hungry, headache, frequent urination, shivering. Do Random Blood Sugar test if you have such symptoms.
- Random Blood Sugar below 70mg/dl – treat immediately by having glucose water or sugar or toffes along with carbohydrate rich food items such as khakhra, roti or any other sweet item, and visit your doctor immediately.
- Random Blood Sugars above 250-300 mg/dl consult your doctor.
HEALTHY TIPS FOR PARYUSHAN:
- Consult your doctor, before fasting.
- Include cereals such as bajra, nachni, jowar, and oats as they provide good amount of fiber, since vgetables are not consumed during paryushan these could be a good alternative.
- Include whole pulses, dals.
- Use cow’s milk and its products like curd, buttermilk, paneer.
- If having fruits, avoid fruits such as banana, chikko, jackfruit, grapes, sitaphal.
- Drink atleast 10-12 glasses of water and other fluids such as dal soups, buttermilk, and porridges to avoid dehydration.
- Exercise atleast for 30 minutes; 3 times a week.
- If not having walnuts and almonds; have 1 tsp of flax seeds daily as it has good amounts of omega fatty acids which is found in almonds and walnuts.
- Instead of just having wheat roti, have bajra, jowar, nachni or add oats to wheat flour, as it has fibers which is required to control your blood sugar levels.
- Avoid deep fried items such as sev, puri, makai chivda; instead have khakhra with handful roasted chanas or 1 katori kurmura with roasted chanas .
- Choose sugar-free sweets and avoid foods which are very high in sugar.
Posted in Diabetes Care