Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

29 April 2026

6-minute read

For those living with diabetes, careful preparation is essential to ensure both a safe and fulfilling pilgrimage. Proper planning allows these pilgrims to focus on their ibadah with peace of mind, knowing their health is being managed responsibly.

Faaiza Laher, a registered Dietitian at Garden City Clinic in Johannesburg, says that “hajj is one of the most meaningful journeys a Muslim can make.”  She takes us through the diabetic guide to Hajj — how pilgrims can prepare before departure, what precautions to take during the pilgrimage, and why professional dietary and medical support is so important for a safe Hajj experience. Faaiza also helps diabetic pilgrims by guiding them on meal planning, hydration, medication timing, managing sugar levels, and preventing complications such as hypoglycaemia or dehydration.

The physical demands of Hajj — long hours of walking, changes in routine, irregular mealtimes, heat exposure, and managing medication while travelling — can and do affect blood sugar levels. The first step before hajj is to do a “medical and a dietetic review,” a few weeks before departure to find out if the patient’s body is ready for the changes in routine. A medical examination at the doctor will cover kidney function, medication, heart rate, insulin doses, blood pressure, foot health and the incidence of hypoglycaemia. Faaiza advises putting a plan in place with the patient’s dietician for meals, snacks and hydration, and having a back-up plan for delayed meals, especially in the hotter weather.

The goal during hajj is “to eat consistently enough to prevent highs and lows in blood glucose”. Include slow-release carbohydrates, protein and fibre in your food choices. Try to incorporate foods like crackers with cheese, yoghurt with fruit or nuts, bread with an egg, and rice with chicken. Small, fast-acting glucose snacks that diabetics can carry along include wholewheat crackers, nuts, roasted chickpeas, protein bars, peanut butter sachets, tuna sachets, fruit and biltong. For diabetics, “food is part of your treatment plan,” says Faaiza.

During hajj, glucose can be very unpredictable, affecting blood sugar levels and causing them to spike or drop. The long walks, standing for prolonged periods, the heat, and the delays in meals, can cause low-blood sugar, especially in people who are insulin dependent. On the other hand, the heat and dehydration can also cause sugar to become more concentrated in the body, thus leading to high blood sugar levels in the body. Stress, pain, infections, lack of sleep and unfamiliar foods can also push sugars up.

Warning signs for low blood sugar are sweating, dizziness, crankiness, blurred vision, headaches, irritability, confusion, sudden tiredness, and weakness. Heat exhaustion can also be confused with low blood sugar through sweating, dizziness and weakness. Symptoms of high blood sugar include passing urine often, excessive thirst, blurred vision, tiredness, nausea, dry mouth, blurred vision, or general unwellness. Faaiza suggests that diabetics take along a glucometer to check their blood sugar every day and to take extra strips and needles with them. Elderly diabetic patients are more at risk and need family members to help take care of them.

Hydration during Hajj for diabetic patients is “absolutely important” for many different functions in the body. Low fluid volumes affect blood glucose levels. The body loses more fluid through sweat, causing glucose levels to rise and worsening dehydration. “Don’t wait until you are extremely thirsty” to get in your fluids, states Faaiza, rather sip constantly on water, or zamzam, which does not cause as much urination as water. While most hajis are hesitant to use the bathroom during the 5 days, Faaiza emphasizes on drinking water and zamzam continuously and using them as their main drink. Don’t be afraid to use the bathroom! If you’re going on hajj, take care of yourself and don’t compromise your journey by causing yourself to become dehydrated.

Diabetic pilgrims should have a medical and nutrition travel kit that stays with them all the time. Medical kits should include a glucometer and charger, strips, lances, insulin pens, swabs, needles, prescription copy, an ID saying that you are diabetic, and insulin. Insulin should not be exposed to heat and sunlight and should be stored in a proper cooling pouch with an icepack to stay cool. Nutrition kits should include a fast-acting glucose like a juice, nuts, crackers, sweets, roasted chana, peanut butter sachets and oral rehydration sachets. Water bottles should also be packed into luggage.

Foot care is critical! Wear comfortable shoes and take good care of your feet, as they are the first point of infection. Treat blisters and wounds immediately, keep your feet dry and avoid walking barefoot. Faaiza concludes by saying that the better you feed yourself, the better you will feel. Even as a diabetic, if you look after your body and your health, you will feel strong enough to perform all your ibaadah with strength and peace of mind.

Listen to the full interview with Faaiza Munshi and Faaiza Laher here.