Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Feb;30(1):36-42.
doi: 10.2337/ds15-0058.

Empowerment-Based Diabetes Self-Management Education to Maintain Glycemic Targets During Ramadan Fasting in People With Diabetes Who Are on Conventional Insulin: A Feasibility Study

Yara M Eid  1 , Sahar I Sahmoud  1 , Mona M Abdelsalam  1 , Barbara Eichorst  2
Affiliations

Empowerment-Based Diabetes Self-Management Education to Maintain Glycemic Targets During Ramadan Fasting in People With Diabetes Who Are on Conventional Insulin: A Feasibility Study

Yara M Eid et al. Diabetes Spectr. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the feasibility of promoting safe Ramadan fasting through diabetes self-management education (DSME) and to determine the effect of such education on hypoglycemic episodes.

Design and methods: This prospective study included subjects attending Ramadan reinforcement sessions for participants in the Educational Program for People with Diabetes (EPPWD) at the Ain-Shams University Diabetes Center in Cairo, Egypt. The DSME sessions started 2-3 weeks before Ramadan and included one experimental fasting day during the first week and one during the second week. Participants' A1C and serum fructosamine levels were measured before and after Ramadan, and they completed weekly self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) logs.

Results: Among 21 participants who were intending to fast for Ramadan, 14 completed the program. Their mean A1C was 6.7 ± 1.6%, and SMBG results showed a statistically nonsignificant difference in mean blood glucose levels before and after Ramadan (123.84 ± 39.96 and 123.84 ± 25.92 mg/dL, respectively; P >0.05). Serum fructosamine after Ramadan declined by 10% from pre-Ramadan levels. The mean number of hypoglycemic events before Ramadan was 3 ± 1.04, which declined to 1.4 ± 0.5 during Ramadan. Differences between group 1 (those without hypoglycemia, n = 8) and group 2 (those with hypoglycemia, n = 6) were nonsignificant for all variables, including A1C.

Conclusion: Ramadan fasting is feasible for people with diabetes who are on a multiple daily injection insulin regimen and participate in the EPPWD. The number of hypoglycemic events per month declined with the attainment of DSME.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Al-Arouj M, Bouguerra R, Buse J, et al. . Recommendations for management of diabetes during Ramadan. Diabetes Care 2005;28:2305–2311 - PubMed
    1. AlAlwan I, Banyan AA. Effects of Ramadan fasting on children with type 1 diabetes. Int J Diabetes Mellit 2010;2:127–129
    1. Mojaddidi M, Hassanein M, Malik RA. Ramadan and diabetes: evidence-based guidelines. Prescriber 2006;17:38–43
    1. Al-Arouj M, Assaad-Khalil S, Buse J, et al. . Recommendations for management of diabetes during Ramadan: update 2010. Diabetes Care 2010;33:1895–1902 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Franc S, Dardari D, Boucherie B, et al. . Real-life application and validation of flexible intensive insulin-therapy algorithms in type 1 diabetes patients. Diabetes Metab 2009;35:463–468 - PubMed