Fasting for Religious Purposes?

I am a 42 year old LADA diagnosed earlier this year, and I currently treat my condition with a single daily injection of Lantus (18 units), diet, and exercise. My 14 day average on my glucose meter is 109, and my last A1c was at 6.4 (4 mos ago - I get updated results when I visit my endo tomorrow).

Anyway, with that out of the way, I am on our church's building expansion team, and we are facing some very important decisions on how and when to proceed with a major sanctuary expansion. Our team members were asked by our pastor to fast for three meals and pray for guidance on the topic during the next couple of weeks. I would like to take part in this team effort, but I don't think it is a very good idea given my diabetes.

I plan on talking to my endocrinologist about the topic at tomorrow's appointment, but I thought I would throw this out there for this group to see if any of you had experience with attempting to fast, and how you went about it. Left to my own intuition, I would either reduce of skip the Lantus injection the night before, but since I experience a pretty significant dawn phenomonon and high morning glucose level without the Lantus, I am a bit reluctant to do this.

Any insight or experience that could be shared would be appreciated

Tags: fasting

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Permalink Reply by Emmy on September 21, 2010 at 4:37pm

When we fasted for spiritual reasons, we did a Biblical fast. A full 24 hours, from sunset to sunset, with no food, and no beverages or candy, nothing. Not even water.

At the time I did not have diabetes, but did develop reactive hypoglycemia, which made it pretty tough. I really dreaded fasting after that.

Now I'm on two types on insulin and I do not fast. My husband who is on metformin, still does fast but not as strictly. He takes his other meds, as he cannot skip them, and has one glass of water because dehydration is dangerous for him. I really think he should have as much water as he wants, but its his choice.

I'd certainly make it a point to talk to my endo first, if I was going to try it now. I've done shorter fasts, but not 24 hours.

The principal in Jewish law is that you should not do anything to harm your body, and if a religious fast would harm you because of your diabetes or another serious medical condition, then you should not fast.

There are lots of good articles out there if you want to Google it. Look up Yom Kippur and diabetes. Here's a good one
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/Blog/Jan-Chait/fast_days_need...

"Jewish law has the principle of l'chai b'chem, 'you shall live by the commandments, not die by them.' If fasting is injurious to your health, you should not do it,"

"When I was at my synagogue, I always said, 'Listen to what your doctor says, and if he prohibits it, you must not fast.'"

H. David Teitelbaum, rabbi emeritus at Redwood City's Conservative Temple Beth Jacob.

Permalink Reply by latvianchick on November 19, 2010 at 1:57pm

Do not fast from food! There are many ways of fasting healthily. In the Bible when fasting is mentioned it is usually from food but we can fast from other things - like talking, or watching TV or listening to the radio ...... and spend the time praying. But if you are diabetic, do keep to your regular meals an medication! I do. God understands and He still answers prayers!

Permalink Reply by Pebbles Audrey Smith on October 10, 2011 at 7:16pm

I have type 1 diabetes and I'm also a Catholic. Our main fast days are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, which marks the beginning and ending of Lent. During Lent we also abstain from meat on those days and on Fridays. Throughout the rest of the year Fridays is also a day of self sacrifice and, if you wish, abstain from meat. There is really no rules but if you wish to fast, ask your doctor if you can time the insulin dosage to match your carbs on those days.