Author: Cindy

Nutritional Management During Fasting Month of Ramadan

Posted on by Cindy in BlogPost

05 April 2023  |  Article is written by Mohammad Noor Hisham (Dietitian, Lovy Pharmacy)

This article is reviewed by dietitian Tan Jun Er and nutritionist Yeu Yi Wen (Lovy Pharmacy)


(Image credit: Freepik)

Muslims around the world are nearly halfway through the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslim adults and adolescents who have reached puberty abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk. In Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, the average fasting hours range from 12 to 14 hours a day. Certain groups such as pregnant and lactating women, and individuals with severe illnesses, are exempted from fasting for health reasons.

As we approach the final 15 days of Ramadan, it is important to maintain proper nutrition intake. In this post, we will look into eating habits to avoid, nutritional management for diabetic patients, and Ramadan nutrition meal plans.

Eating Habits to Avoid During Ramadan

Though it is known that fasting during Ramadan has its list of health benefits, following most of our cravings during iftar and not having a balanced meal during suhoor can lead to a harmful eating pattern that might cause health problems.

Nutritional Management for Diabetic Patients

Fasting during Ramadan for people with diabetes carries considerable challenges. Despite that, many diabetic patients still insist on fasting. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) must be conscious of the potential dangers of fasting for some individuals with diabetes and should quantify and stratify the risks for every individual to provide the best possible care. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, discuss with your doctor and dietitian before fasting during Ramadan.

 Consult our doctors and dietitians via Live Chat feature within our Doctor2U app.


Ramadan Nutrition Plan (RNP) for Diabetes Patients

Ramadan Nutrition Plan (RNP) is a clinically proven tool, designed to assist individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) to achieve better blood glucose control and help with weight management. This plan can also be applied for the general population.

The “Ramadan plate” method may be used for designing meals.

(Image credit: IDF-DAR Practical Guideline 2021)

Glycemic Index (GI): A measure of the increase in the level of blood sugar caused by eating a specific carbohydrate.

Managing Digestive Issues During Fasting

The reduction in food intake that comes along with fasting may cause digestive issues such as constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, and bloating. It is best to support your fasting journey and enhance the benefits of fasting with probiotic supplementation that contains Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains.

Our Nutridos Bifido mixed berries juice powder is rich with probiotics to help improve good gut bacteria. The juice powder is free from sugar, colourant and artificial flavouring, making it a healthier choice of drink

Purchase Nutridos Bifido mixed berries juice to enjoy its nutritional benefits.

Here is a sample of nutritious and tasty meal plans during the fasting month:

In short, practising mindful eating during Ramadan can help with blood sugar control as well as weight management. Remember to avoid excessive refined carbohydrate intake, choose low Glycemic Index (GI) carbohydrates, and consume plenty of water. We hope you have a smooth journey in the remaining days of this fasting month. Selamat berpuasa!

References

  1. Bashier, A.M., et al., Impact of optimum diabetes care on the safety of fasting in Ramadan in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on insulin therapy. Diabetes research and clinical practice, 2019. 150: p. 301-307.
  2. El Toony, L.F., D.A. Hamad, and O.M. Omar, Outcome of focused pre-Ramadan education on metabolic and glycaemic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 2018. 12(5): p. 761-767.
  3. Hamdy, O., et al., The Ramadan Nutrition Plan (RNP) for Patients with Diabetes. Diabetes and Ramadan: practical guidelines [Internet], 2017: p. 73-83.
  4. Hassanein M;Afandi B;Yakoob Ahmedani M;Mohammad Alamoudi R;Alawadi F;Bajaj HS;Basit A;Bennakhi A;El Sayed AA;Hamdy O;Hanif W;Jabbar A;Kleinebreil L;Lessan N;Shaltout I;Mohamad Wan Bebakar W;Abdelgadir E;Abdo S;Al Ozairi E;Al Saleh Y;Alarouj M;Ali T;Ali Al. (2021.). Diabetes and ramadan: Practical guidelines 2021. Diabetes research and clinical practice. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35016991/.
  5. Tourkmani, A.M., et al., Impact of Ramadan focused education program on hypoglycemic risk and metabolic control for patients with type 2 diabetes. Patient preference and adherence, 2016. 10: p. 1709.

Breast and Cervical Cancer: Early Detection and Prevention

Posted on by Cindy in NewPost

08 March 2023  | Article is written by Tan Jun Er, Yeu Yi Wen and Bong Xiang Yang (Lovy Pharmacy)

(Image credit: Freepik)

It’s the International Women’s Day! Today, we are here to empower women to care and make informed decisions about their health.

Did you know that 1 in about 20 Malaysian women are at risk of developing breast cancer?

As reported by The Star in October 2022, “breast cancer is the most common cancer among Malaysian women, accounting for 34.1% of new cases from 2011 to 2016, followed by colorectal cancer at 11.1% and cervical cancer at 6.2%.”

Breast cancer remains one of the leading cancer deaths for Malaysian women. It is estimated that over 9 individuals die of breast cancer every day, while the number of deaths annually is estimated to be 3,500. (1)

How to detect breast cancer early

One major reason for high mortality in breast cancers is patients are more likely to come forward with late-stage diagnosis, which lowers the chance of a cure and limits access to life-saving therapies.

Mammogram screening is one of the best methods for detecting breast cancer early to increase survival chances. Unfortunately, it is estimated that only 10% of Malaysians attend regular mammogram screening. (1)

What is mammogram and how does it work?

Mammography examination uses X-ray to screen and diagnose breast diseases in women. It can often find or detect breast cancer early, when it is small and even before a lump can be felt.

Early detection prevents long-term complications. Click here to pre-purchase your mammogram package and contact our BP Healthcare outlets to make an appointment today.

BP Healthcare offers mammogram service

Breast self-examination

Besides that, it is important for us women to observe our breasts regularly and watch out for any breast changes. You are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical help if you observe any breast changes.

Check your breast once a month, 2-3 days after menses:

1.  Observe your breasts in a mirror. Visually examine any changes in shape, size, or redness or scaling of skin.
2. Raise your arms and use your fingers to feel for any unusual changes, such as lumps, hardened knots, or swelling in your armpit or around your breast.
3. Check your nipples for any changes in appearance or discharge, such as blood or yellow fluid.
4. Repeat the procedure for the other breast.

(Image credit: PACE Hospitals)

Awareness on cervical cancer

Meanwhile, cervical cancer happens when cells in the cervix start to become abnormal. According to the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Information Centre on HPV and Cancer, cervical cancer ranks as the 4th most frequent cancer among women in Malaysia and the 2nd most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. (2)

Prevention is better than cure

The risk factors of cervical cancer include early sexual activity, long-term contraceptive use, and unprotected sex. However, more than 95% of cervical cancer cases are in fact attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Cervical cancer is preventable with regular screening such as Pap Smear test and HPV DNA test. Women aged 21-65 are recommended to have a pap smear test every 3 years. That way, problems can be detected earlier before they ever become cancer.

Other than that, all women are highly recommended to be vaccinated against HPV, even before becoming sexually active. Gardasil-9 (9vHPV) protects against nine HPV types (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58). A complete vaccination involves 3 injections at 0th, 2nd and 6th month, and the protection provided by HPV vaccines can last almost a lifetime.

To learn more about HPV vaccine, check out our Q&A session with Dr Choong.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, both breast and cervical cancer are preventable. A regular screening such as mammogram, pap smear, and HPV vaccination can help in early detection and diagnosis.

In conjunction with the International Women’s Day, we are offering a HPV Vaccination Package at only RM1,700 for 3 doses. This promotion is only available until 31 March 2023 so pre-purchase yours today!

References

1. The Star. (2022, October 30). One in 20 Malaysian Women at Risk of Breast Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/starpicks/2022/10/30/one-in-20-malaysian-women-at-risk-of-breast-cancer.
2. Institut Català d’Oncologia. (2021). Malaysia: Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, Fact Sheet 2021. ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer. https://hpvcentre.net/statistics/reports/MYS_FS.pdf.

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