Letter Answering Department Survey--Fasting with medical problems

SUBJECT: Fasting

QUESTION: I have diabetes and was wondering how fasting might impact that situation. What is your view? What about medicines and medications? Can we take these during a fast?

ANSWER:

As a precaution, we encourage everyone in our congregations to consider their health when considering fasting. Clearly some would experience side effects by fasting and these need to be considered before deciding whether to fast. Some of the health situations, which may be negatively impacted by fasting, are (but not limited to):

Underweight, Pregnancy, Fatigue, Nursing, Alkaline type, Pre and Post surgery, Low immunity, Mental illness, Weak heart, Cancer, Low blood pressure, Peptic Ulcers, Cardiac arrhythmia's, Nutritional deficiencies, and Diabetes.

In the case of anyone having diabetes or any such health situation as listed above, we strongly recommend and encourage they seek out complete medical advice with their personal health care provider. Tell your health care provider (doctor, etc.) exactly what it is you wish to do, namely, to perform a full 24-hour fast without any food or any water. They will inform you, based on your specific case state of health, whether this is a good idea or not. In some cases with diabetes, fasting is out of the question. Some health care providers will recommend missing one meal or might recommend a certain minimum in food, water or both. We, again, strongly recommend that a person with diabetes and/or other medical health considerations follow the instructions and advice of their health care provider.

Taking of Medicines or Medications during a Fast
Again, check with your medical provider and get their input, recommendations and directions regarding medicines and medications as they relate to the idea of you going on a fast. Follow their directions and recommendations.

In general, and assuming all things stated in the paragraph above, take the medicines with a minimum of water. This is your fast between you and God. You be the judge.

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Medical Information and General Disclaimer
The Intercontinental Church of God [ICG] and the GTA Evangelistic Association [EA] Does Not Provide Medical, Health or Dietary Advice

The information and materials on our web sites and in our publications are provided for general information purposes and may not be relied on as a substitute for actual professional medical advice, care or treatment.

Nothing of the ICG or EA may be used for diagnosing or treating any health condition and is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation, diagnosis or treatment.

The information provided by the ICG and EA is not intended to be or should be taken as professional medical advice.

You are encouraged to consult your physician or your local health care provider to obtain professional medical advice, which may agree or disagree with the information and materials contained on this site.

You should consult your own physician or your local health care provider regarding your own symptoms, medical condition, treatment or medications.

If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, you should contact your own physician or local health care provider immediately.

Do not disregard the medical advice of your physician or local health care provider or delay in seeking medical advice from your physician or local health care provider because of anything you read on this site.

All information found in the Healing Section of our Church web site is of a spiritual nature and is designed to explain our doctrine on Healing. A major focus of this doctrine establishes two facts:

1] None in the ministry of the Intercontinental Church of God and/or the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are health practitioners and offer no medical advice of any kind.

2] All members and even the public viewing this site and/or Healing Section are most strongly encouraged to seek the best medical advice and the best medical help they can.

Though the ICG Church site speaks of foods as mentioned in the Bible, this information is by no means medical or dietary advice. Even in matters of diet, all members and all public are to consult with the best medical providers and the best secular information they can find on the subject. No diet, to including fasting, is to be put into practice without the member or public getting the best medical advice and consultation available. Members and public are encouraged to consult your physician or your local health care provider to obtain professional medical advice regarding anything to do with health, diet, foods, procedures, fasting, medicines, supplements, vitamins, minerals, treatments, hospitals, doctors, medical professionals, health providers or diseases.

In our Fun Family Projects, we have a Family Nutrition Project, which is designed for the family to do their own research on foods and nutrition. The links provide on this page are for the purpose of members and public own research and for drawing their own conclusions about foods and nutrition.

In our Bible Class and Specific Studies, we have a Bible study on Bible Foods. This study presents a number of foods found in the Bible and provides general nutritional information about those foods found from secular sources. This information is offered only to give essential information about those foods that stand as common knowledge. Nothing of this study on Bible foods is to be taken as medical or dietary advice. Each person reading this study has to make up their own minds about the value of the information as it might relate to diet or health. We encourage each person to consult with medical and dietary experts about every food they might include in their diet. Neither this church nor its ministry has any biblical or moral mandate to do this.

This Church site has a section, "Unleavened Bread Recipes ...for the Days of Unleavened Bread. The recipes given in this section are for the member's or visitor's information and to aid them in their own research and decision-making as it relates to unleavened food dishes during the Days of Unleavened Bread. There is no church, doctrinal or spiritual requirement they be used for the Days of Unleavened Bread. They are not posted on the site with any specific or implied message or directive to health, nutrition or diet. The member or visitor must make their own decisions regarding every ingredient of every recipe on the site.

In this recipe section there are some links provided to identify leavening agents. This is the only reason for their posting. Nothing at those sites dealing with recipes, foods, nutrition, disease or health are to be considered in any way. It is not to be implied that we sent the member or visitor to these sites for the purpose of using or even referring to anything there dealing with recipes, foods, nutrition, disease or health.

Nothing found in the EA, Church or Gateway web sites or any of our publications, including e-mails is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease save any statement of scripture that may speak to these things.

This disclaimer and our general disclaimers [EA and Church] apply to all sites [EA, Church, Gateway] of the Intercontinental Church of God and the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.