The effect of Ramadan focused education on patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effect of Ramadan focused education on clinical and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes who fast during Ramadan.

Methods: Literature search was done in PubMed, Embase (Ovid), and the Cochrane Library. Quality assessment was done using the ROBINS-I and Cochrane tools for risk of bias and analyses were performed using RevMan version 5.1.

Results: From 770 records, 430 full text studies were assessed. After exclusions, the final quantitative analysis included 16 studies. Pre-Ramadan education was associated with a significant reduction in Hb_A1c (SMD -0.46, 95% CI -0.65 to -0.27P < 0.05) and LDL (SMD -0.09, 95% CI -0.13 to -0.04P < 0.05), an increase in TG (SMD 0.07, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.93P < 0.05) and weight (SMD 0.44, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.81P < 0.05) and no change in hypoglycemic events, BMI, TC, HDL or blood pressure (P > 0.05) during Ramadan.

Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis shows that Ramadan-focused diabetes education leads to a decrease in Hb_A1c and LDL, but an increase in TG and weight during Ramadan. It also identifies a lack of head to head studies and limited observational studies with adequately assessed end-points.

Keywords: Diabetes; Education; HbA(1c); Hypoglycemia; Ramadan fasting; Weight.