Renad Ghanem

Saudi Gazette

 

WITH the start of Ramadan, many people start taking care of their health by doing exercise and organizing their daily eating habit. Saudis and expatriates tend to exercise more during Ramadan. At the same time, they start taking care of their health by monitoring their blood pressure and sugar levels using self checkup medical equipment usually sold in pharmacies.



According to statistics published early this year in Saudi Gazette and released by Dr. Abdullah Muhammad Kaki, chairman of the Saudi Society of Pain Medicine (SSPM), more than 28 percent of Saudis are diabetic and more than 21 percent of Saudis suffer from blood pressure problems.



According to pharmacists interviewed in this report, there is a slight increase in the sales of medical equipment during the month of Ramadan. Saudis are known of their bad eating habits and lack of exercise. This results in many health complications.



According to the pharmacists interviewed, the most popular devices sold are instruments for diabetic tests and blood pressure monitors.



Doctors advise people suffering from of blood pressure and diabetes to get the home testing devices, especially for diabetic patients. If the blood sugar was lower or higher than normal, then it requires immediate medical intervention. It can be easily done if there is any home testing equipment.



Doctors usually advise diabetic patients to measure their glucose levels throughout the day, and sometimes twice a day during fasting and after iftar.



Both patients of blood pressure and blood sugar can get the home devices from any pharmacy without any prescriptions. They can ask the pharmacist about the type that is stable for them to use.



Mohammed Al-Sayed, a sales representative at pharmaceutical company in Jeddah, told Saudi Gazette that it is preferred for both patients of blood pressure and diabetes to have home meter devices, especially in Ramadan.



“In Ramadan, diabetic and blood pressure patients follow different habits of eating and it causes instability of the sugar level in their blood,” said Al-Sayed.



“The producers of the home test devices have improved their products to make it easier for the patients. Numbers are clearer and it is easy for patients to read and buttons are bigger so patients will not be confused,” he said.



Abdulghani Ali, a pharmacist, said the sales of home medical equipment slightly increase before Ramadan. “Most of my customers are middle aged fat men who are trying to monitor their blood sugar levels, especially in Ramadan. I had a Saudi man who bought a blood sugar monitor just to know when to stop eating sweets during Ramadan. But the majority are people who are trying to stay healthy.”



Abdulghani said most of his customers are regular who have diabetic parents and looking to buy new and improved device.



“Prices of blood sugar devices range from SR100 to SR300 and more depending on the model and features in the device,” he added.



Mohammed Abdul Fattah, another pharmacist, said that home devices sold by pharmacies are safe for use because it is monitored by the Ministry of Health. Companies providing these devices are obliged to include instructions on how to use the device in Arabic language.



“The sale of those devices in Ramadan is similar to the rest of the year.



However, pilgrims and visitors who come for Umrah raise the number of sales, because they trust the Saudi market and they believe that the devices here are better than what is available in other countries. They also buy these devices here because it is relatively cheap compared with the prices back in their home countries,” said Mohammed.



He added that there is an increase in awareness among people suffering from diabetes and blood pressure problem and they keep such devices at home to test themselves.