AS the month of Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims in the local area will be preparing to celebrate Eid.

For Muslims with diabetes, Eid can feel like a daunting prospect, but having the condition doesn’t mean traditional festive foods are forbidden.

Just like everyone else celebrating, high fat and high sugar foods such as barfi and rasmala can be enjoyed in moderation.

Throughout the day, it’s best to eat foods that are absorbed relatively slowly, such as basmati rice, chickpeas and dhal or biryani.

These types of foods, and fruits and vegetables, can help keep blood glucose levels more stable during the celebrations.

If you have a blood testing monitor, don’t forget to test your blood glucose levels more during the festivities and before every meal to make sure they don’t get too high.

Desserts and sweet treats are seen to be an important part of celebrating Eid, and if you have diabetes then you don’t have to miss out. The occasional sweet treat can be incorporated into a healthy balanced diet.

You can make some small changes to make traditional recipes healthier, for example replace sugar with sweetener and use semi-skimmed or skimmed milk instead of full fat milk.

Choose healthier desserts such as fruit salads and low fat fruit yoghurt.

If anyone needs any more information they should speak to a healthcare professional or call the Diabetes UK Careline on 0845 120 2960.

Phaedra Perry, Diabetes UK, South West