Ramadan Fasting and Diabetes Mellitus


The objective of this review article is to assist physicians who face the difficult task of advising diabetic patients about the safety of fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

There have been diverse findings regarding the physiological impact of Ramadan on diabetics. However, researchers have not found pathological changes or clinical complications in any of the following parameters in diabetics who fast: body weight, blood glucose, HbA1C, c-peptide, insulin, fructoseamine, cholesterol and triglycerides. In the guidelines section of the article, we strongly recommend diabetic patients continue their regular daily activity and diet regimen. It is also critical that diabetics adjust their drug treatments, particularly those patients diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We named these three important factors -- drug regimen adjustment, diet control and daily activity -- the "Ramadan 3D Triangle." With 3D attention, proper education and diabetic management, we conclude that most non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients and occasional IDDM patients who insist on fasting can carefully observe Ramadan. Int J Ramadan Fasting Res. 2:8-17, 1998.

INTRODUCTION

Several of the world's great religions recommend a period of fasting or abstinence from certain foods. Of these, the Islamic fast during the Muslim month of Ramadan is strictly observed every year. Islam specifically outlines one full month of intermittent fasting. The experience of fasting is intended to teach Muslims self-discipline and self-restraint and remind them of the plight of the impoverished. Muslims observing the fast are required to abstain not only from eating and drinking, but also from consuming oral medications and intravenous nutritional fluids.

The month of Ramadan contains 28 days to 30 days. The dates of observance differ each year because Ramadan is set to a lunar calendar. Fasting extends each day from dawn until sunset, a period which varies by geographical location and season. In summer months and northern latitudes, the fast can last up to 18 hours or more. Islam recommends that fasting Muslims eat a meal before dawn, called "sahur." Individuals are exempt from Ramadan fasting if they are suffering from an illness that could be adversely affected by fasting. They are allowed to restrain from fasting for one day to all 30 days, depending on the condition of their illness. People diagnosed with diabetes fall into this category and are exempt from the fasting requirement, but they are often loathe to accept this concession.  Physicians working in Muslims countries and communities commonly face the difficult task of advising diabetic patients whether it is safe to fast, as well as recommending the dietary and drug regimens diabetics should follow if they decide to fast. The lack of adequate literature on this subject makes it difficult to answer these questions. To judge correctly whether to grant medical permission to fast to a diabetic patient, it is essential physicians have an appreciation of the effect of Ramadan fasting on the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. In this article, we first review principles of carbohydrate metabolism and alterations of certain biochemical variables in diabetics observing Ramadan fasting. We then overview current medical recommendations that allow certain diabetic patients to fast and outline terms for diabetic patients, particularly IDDM patients, who should not fast but insist on fasting.

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE OF DIABETICS DURING RAMADAN

Carbohydrate metabolism during Ramadan fasting in healthy persons

The effect of experimental short-term fasting on carbohydrate metabolism has been extensively studied (1,2). It has been uniformly found that a slight decrease in serum glucose to 3.3 mmol to 3.9 mmol (60 mg/dl to 70 mg/dl) occurs in normal adults a few hours after fasting has begun. However, the reduction in serum glucose ceases due to increased gluconeogenesis in the liver. That occurs because of a decrease in insulin concentration and a rise in glucagon and sympathetic activity (3).   In children aged one years to nine years, fasting for a 24-hour period has caused a decrease in the blood glucose to half of the baseline figure for normal children of that age group. In 22% of these children, blood glucose has fallen below 40 mg/dl (4). Few studies have shown the effect of Ramadan fasting on serum glucose (5-9). One study has shown a slight decrease in serum glucose in the first days of Ramadan, followed by normalization by the twentieth day and a slight rise by the twenty-ninth day of Ramadan (6). The lowest serum glucose level in this study was 63 mg/dl. Others have shown a mild increase (7) or variation in serum glucose concentration (8,9), but all of them fell within physiological limits (6). From the foregoing studies, one may assume that the stores of glycogen, along with some degree of gluconeogenesis, maintain normal limits of serum glucose when a fast follows a large pre-dawn meal. However, slight changes in serum glucose may occur in individuals depending upon food habits and individual differences in metabolism and energy regulation.

Body weight during Ramadan fasting

(a) In normal subjects:

Weight losses of 1.7 kg. (10), 1.8 kg. (11), 2.0 kg. (12) and 3.8 kg (13) have been reported in normal weight individuals after they have fasted for the month of Ramadan. In one study that was over-represented by females, no change in body weight was seen (14). It has also been reported that overweight persons lose more weight than normal or underweight subjects (12).

(b) In diabetics:

A review of literature shows controversy about weight changes in diabetics during Ramadan. (6,15-24). In one group of studies, patients had an increase in their weight (17,21). In another group, there were no change (15,19,22,23) or a decrease (6,16,18,20,24) in body weight.  While no food or drink is consumed between dawn and sunset during the month of Ramadan, there is no restriction on the amount or type of food consumed at night (23,25). Furthermore, most diabetics reduce their daily activities (15,23) during this period in fear of hypoglycemia. These factors may result in not only a lack of weight loss, but also a weight gain in such patients (26). (See later discussion about nutrition and physical activity.)

Blood glucose variations during Ramadan fasting in diabetics

Most patients show no significant change in their glucose control (3,23,24,27). In some patients, serum glucose concentration may fall or rise (28-30). This variation may be due to the amount or type of food consumption, regularity of taking medications, engorging after the fast is broken, or decreased physical activities. In most cases, no episode of acute complications (hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic types) occurs in patients under medical management (9,15,16,22), And only a few cases of biochemical hypoglycemia without clinical hazards have been reported (17,19,25).

Other parameters of diabetes control during Ramadan fasting

In general, HbAIC values show no change or even improvement during Ramadan (15-18,20,22,23,25,27,28,32). Only two studies have reported slight increases in glycated hemoglobin levels (19,31). However, one report has emphasized the same increase in non-fasting patients as fasting patients (31), and the other has shown a return to initial levels immediately after the month of Ramadan (19).

The amount of fructosamine (17,22,24,30,32), insulin, C-peptide (23,30) also has been reported to have no significant change before and during Ramadan fasting.

Energy intake and serum lipid variables during Ramadan fasting in diabetics

The amount of Energy (calorie) intake have been reported in some of the literature, indicating a decrease in energy intake (24,28).

Most patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM, diabetes type II) and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM, diabetes type I) show no change or a slight decrease in concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride (15-19,27,28,32). Increase in total cholesterol levels during Ramadan seldom occurs (23). As in healthy persons (33-36), few studies have reported increases in high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in diabetics during Ramadan (18,19,27). One report indicates an increase in low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol (28). Until there is a standardization of diabetes Ramadan research in three fundamental factors -- the Three D Triangle of drug regimens, diet control and daily activity -- the benefits or hazards of Ramadan fasting on diabetics serum lipids is unclear.

Other biological parameters during Ramadan fasting in diabetics

Serum creatinine, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, protein, albumin, alanine amino-transferase, aspartate amino-transferase values do not show significant changes during the fasting period (15,17,32). Slight non-significant increases in some biological parameters may be due to dehydration and metabolic adaptation and have no clinical presentation.

FASTING GUIDELINES TO DIABETICS

During the last two decades, a better understanding of pathophysiological changes during Ramadan fasting in diabetic patients has provided a few guidelines on how to advise diabetics who want to fast. Physicians working with Muslim diabetics should employ certain criteria to advise their patients regarding the safety of Ramadan fasting.

The following criteria should be helpful in making such a decision (20,37):

Forbid fasting in:

  • All brittle type I diabetic patients;

  • Poorly controlled type I or type II diabetic patients;

  • Diabetic patients known to be incompliant in terms of following advice on diet drug regimens and daily activity;

  • Diabetic patients with serious complications such as unstable angina or uncontrolled hypertension;

  • Patients with a history of diabetic ketoacidosis;

  • Pregnant diabetic patients;

  • Diabetic patients will inter-current infections;

  • Elderly patients with any degree of alertness problems;

  • Two or more episodes of hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia during Ramadan.

 Allow fasting in:

  • Patients who do not have the aforementioned criteria;

  • Patient who accept medical advisement.

 Encourage fasting in:

  • All overweight NIDDM patients (except for pregnant or nursing mothers) whose diabetes is stable with weight levels 20% above the ideal weight or body mass index (body weight, kg/height, meters squared) greater than 28.

EDUCATION OF THE DIABETICS BEFORE RAMADAN

NIDDM patients and IDDM patients who insist on fasting should be given a few recommendations about fasting (16). They should be forbidden from skipping meals, taking medication irregularly or gorging after the fast is broken (26).

The principles of pre-Ramadan considerations are (37):

  1. assessment of physical well being;

  2. assessment of metabolic control;

  3. adjustment of the diet protocol for Ramadan fasting;

  4. adjustment of the drug regimen e.g. change long-acting hypoglycemic drugs to short-acting drugs to prevent hypoglycemia);

  5. encouragement of continued proper physical activity;

  6. recognition of warning symptoms of dehydration, hypoglycemia and other possible complications.

RECOMMENDATIONS DURING RAMADAN FASTING

I. Nutrition and Ramadan fasting:

Dietary indiscretion during the non-fasting period with excessive gorging, or compensatory eating, of carbohydrate and fatty foods contributes to the tendency towards hyperglycemia and weight gain (21,23). It has been emphasized that Ramadan fasting benefits appear only in patients who maintain their appropriate diets (24,38,39). Thus, in order to optimize control, diabetics must be reminded to abstain from the high-calorie and highly-refined foods prepared during this month (38).

II. Physical activity and Ramadan fasting:

Several studies indicate that light to moderate regular exercise during Ramadan fasting is harmless for NIDDM patients (15). It has been shown that fasting does not interfere with tolerance to exercise (40). It should be impressed upon diabetic patients that it is necessary to continue their usual physical activity especially during non-fasting periods (41)

III. Drug regimens for IDDM patients:

Some experienced physicians conclude Ramadan fasting is safe for IDDM patients with proper self-monitoring and close professional supervision (16). It is fundamental to adjust the insulin regimen for good IDDM control during Ramadan fasting. Two insulin therapy methods have been studied successfully:

  1. Three-dose insulin regimen: two doses before meals (sunset and Dawn) of short-acting insulin and one dose in the late evening of intermediate-acting insulin (16).

  2. Two-dose insulin regimen: Evening insulin combined with short-acting and medium-acting insulin equivalent to the previous morning dosage, and a pre-dawn insulin consisting only of a regular dosage of 0.1-0.2 unit/kg (25).

Home blood glucose monitoring should be performed just before the sunset meal and three hours afterwards. It should also be performed before the pre-dawn meal to adjust the insulin dose and prevent any hypoglycemia and post-prandial hyperglycemia following over-eating.

 IV. Drug regimens for NIDDM patients:

Available reports indicate that there are no major problems encountered with NIDDM overweight patients who observe fasting in Ramadan (3). With proper changes in the dosage of hypoglycemic agents there will be low risk for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

The authors of the largest series of patients treated with glibenclamide during Ramadan recommended that diabetics switch the morning dose (together with any mid-day dose) of this drug with the dosage taken at sunset (31).

V. Other health tips for reduction of complications:

  1. Implementation of the 3D Triangle of Ramadan -- drug regimen adjustment, diet control and daily activity -- as the three pillars for more successful fasting during Ramadan.

  2. Diabetic home management that consists of:

    - Monitoring home blood glucose especially for IDDM patients, as described above;

    - Checking urine for acetone (IDDM patients);

    - Measuring daily weights and informing physicians of weight reduction (dehydration, low food intake, polyuria) or weight increase (excessive calorie intake) above two kilograms;

    Recording daily diet intake (prevention of excessive and very low energy consumption).

  3. Education about warning symptoms of dehydration, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

  4. Education about breaking fast as soon as any complication or new harmful condition occurs.

  5. Immediate medical help for diabetics who need medical help quickly, rather than waiting for medial assistance the next day.

  6. Further attention on fasting during the summer season and geographical areas with long fasting hours.

 VI. IDDM children and Ramadan fasting:

We do not encourage fasting for IDDM children. However, a few studies demonstrate that fasting is safe among diabetic adolescents. Of these studies, one study concludes that Ramadan fasting is feasible in older children and children who have had diabetes for a long time, and it concludes fasting does not alter short-term metabolic control. Nevertheless, fasting should only be encouraged in children with good glycemic control and regular blood glucose monitoring at home (25).

POST-RAMADAN SUPERVISION OF FASTING DIABETICS

After the month of Ramadan ends, the patients therapeutic regimen should be changed back to its previous schedule. Patients should also be required to get an overall education about the impact of fasting on their physiology (37).

THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ON DIABETICS DURING RAMADAN

From a methodological point of view, few research papers on Ramadan fasting are relevant because of the absence of control periods before Ramadan and afterwards, the absence of measurements during each week of Ramadan, a lack of attention to dietary habits, food composition, food value, caloric control, weight changes and the importance of the schedule during circadian periods.

It is recommended that all these factors should be taken into consideration and that all intervening and confounding variables should be under control. It is clear that more work should be done on Ramadan fasting to evaluate physiological and pathological changes with proper research methods (42).

Fasting during the entire month of Ramadan is reserved usually for healthy Muslims. However, many diabetic patients are allowed to fast periodically during Ramadan. The magnitude of periodic total fasting effect on blood glucose and hepatic glucagon depends on the number of fasting days (43), and this should be considered in all Ramadan fasting research activities.

 CONCLUSION

The bulk of literature indicates that fasting in Ramadan is safe for the majority of diabetics patients with proper education and diabetic management. Most NIDDM patients can fast safely during Ramadan. Occasional IDDM patients who insist on fasting during Ramadan can also fast if they are carefully managed. Strict attention to diet control, daily activity and drug regimen adjustment is essential for successful Ramadan fasting.

To shed more light on pathophysiological changes in Ramadan fasting, in particular in Muslims diabetics, it is recommended that a multicentric international controlled clinical trial be employed to assess the effect of differences in gender, races, physical activities, food habits, sleep patterns and other important variables on physiologic and pathologic conditions during Ramadan fasting.

 


Fereidoun Azizi, MD, and Behnam Siahkolah, MD
Endocrine Research Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran
Address correspondence to: Prof. F.Azizi, P.O. Box 19395-4763, Tehran, I.R.Iran, Fax:+98-21-2402463,
E-mail:[email protected]
Source: International Journal of Ramadan Fasting Research

Disclaimer: The IslamiCity editorial board does not support or oppose the views expressed in this article.


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Older Comments:
HASSNAA FROM USA said:
Assalamu Alaikum,
I suffer from both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia (high and low blood sugar) Is it safe to try to fast for Ramadan. If not, what is the ruling for those in our position who can not fast due to health reasons.
jazak allah khair
2012-07-20

ALI FROM KSA said:
I am diabetic but base on my experiences most important to diabetics patients is to know which particular foods They are eating avoid foods might cause of increasing sugar level and most important sleeping enough time,
2008-09-09

BILAL LATIF FROM USA said:
i take vitamin b-12 injections can i continue doing so during ramadan
2008-09-01

KRIS MACPHERSON FROM MALAYSIA said:
Assalamualaikum.

To all Muslim brothers and sisters who are medically unfit for fasting ( if you perceive it in that manner ) please consult a physician or medical experts advice, preferably Muslim doctors or experts, unless none are available.

Don't make the conclusions on your own. Yes, Islam is a religion that allows exceptions, and ALLAH is Most Merciful and Most Compassionate. But an exceptions from fasting must be on the basis of " darar Syarie or Syarie justification " albeit, if the fasting endangers your life or health.

There ae two kinds of exceptions here, if the medical unfitness or unhealthy is mere temporary, then you still have to fast when you regain back the strength or health at other times of the year.

However if it is permanent, then you don't have to fast but you need to pay the " dam " ( if I undertand it to be ) in forms of money to feed the poor.

But please, and please consult medical experts before arriving at a conclusion whether or not you may fast. ALLAH is the ALL Knower of things and events. Wassalam,
2007-10-01

MUSTAFA KHALAILA FROM USA said:
i have kidny stones problem and my docter told me that fasting can couse my body to make these stones faster, i have been to the hospital many times for to remove those painful stones.
What should i do?
Mustafa Khalaila
2007-09-30

WALED FROM USA said:
i am diebetic, and i want to know, what islam say to fast or not fast during month of ramadan. because i want to follow what islam say.
2007-09-27

LSB FROM USA said:
I have been a diabetic for the last 30yrs i have been on an insuline pump for 6mths which eliminates the 4shots a day I tried to fast the first day but I needed to break it by 1:30p SHe I try and keep fasting throughout the month and if not what should I do in the place of it. I am knew to islam
2005-10-06

YAZ FROM IRELAND. said:
i have diabetes if im able to fast during the month of ramadan and i have to check my blood sugar by pricking my finger and blood comes out does that break my fast?i normally take one tablet to control my blood sugar after breakfast approximetaly 9.30.When fasting when should i take my tablet?
2005-10-04

YAZ FROM IRELAND said:
in islam when they say that long term illness is exempt from fasting in ramadan is diabetes one of those that is exempt.
2005-10-04

REBECCA MOHAMMADI FROM USA said:
I am a Muslim and I am a diabetic. I take 2 medications just for the diabetes and 2 others for my heart. This is my second Ramadan. My blood sugar is at its best during the Month of Ramadan. I ask each day of my fast that Allah will give me the health and strength to continue for my entire fast. This year I have only become sick once and had to break my fast, but that was day I did not eat as I awoke to late to do so. I testify that if a Muslim with diabetes will fast as commanded by Allah, read their Quran, take their medications with their early morning meal and in the evening they will make it through. A diabetic must also eat good foods at the times of eating. Fasting is a blessing for us and if we do the fasting Allah will help us through. I wanted to let you know how I have personally made it through Ramadan two years now. Allah fulfills his promises to us if we but ask. In Allah everything is possible, even with those of us who have health problems - Just do what is asked of us by Allah and know that he will provide the way for us to accomplish what he asks.
2004-11-07

OM MOHAMED FROM USA said:
Jazakalah khairum for this extremely insightful article. I am diabetic and have always had questions re:fasting and controlling this condition. Again, thanks and may Allah bless you for passing this invaluable information on.

OM Mohamed
2004-10-25

M ALI FROM SINGAPORE said:
I just want to know whether I can do blood sugar test punturing skin with a needle for a drop of blood during fasting?
2004-10-21

SILVIA FROM SPAIN said:
i want to know, what kind of persons can make the ramadan?.
thanks
2003-11-15

MOULOUD KALAAI FROM BELGIUM said:
I am an emergency doctor and i have diabetes
type I. I use longterm and short term insuline( humuline and humalog), 5 injections a day. Before the beginning of Ramadan i measure my HgbA1c, cholesterol and triglycerides. After Ramadan my measurements are much better, even approximatly normal( non diabetic) levels of HgbA1c.
During Ramadan i only use the short term insulin, first at suhr, then after measuring in the morning if high level of blood glucose, then at iftar. If nessecary i use a small meal before sleeping.
Because of these very good results i have considered fasting in the way the prophet Daoud did, one day he fasted and the other he didn't, this he did continously all year long, of course during Ramadan to fast every day.
Nothing God ordered us to do harms us, it only makes us better but we have the responsibility to learn about how to use the knowledge he gave us.
Every person has the responsibility to learn about his illness and understand it. And God said in his holy words:" God gives no soul more responsibility than it can take"," laa yoekalifou llahoe nefsen illaa woesahaa".
So people who try to control their diabetes and do not succeed should not fast, for God the mercifull has taken away their responsibility.
And God said in his holy words: "laa taknotoo min rahmatti llah". And God said how can you hate something while God has put good things in it.
So diabetics should not hate their illness but try to control it and thank God for what he gave them, just like the prophet Ayoub did.
God also said " and tell the believers to whom a disaster happened, and then they said we belong to God and to him we shall return, for them there are blessings from their God and they are the guided ones".
I wish for all my brothers and sisters all over the world a Ramadan mabrouk masoud.
2002-11-18

ARWA FROM EMIRATES said:
You write in your "Ramadan Fasting & diabetes Mellitus" Article that it's o.k. for diabetes patients to fast.My friend has tried to fast(she has diabetes)but fainted several times,her doctor tells her if she continues trying to fast she may get very ill or may die if it keeps up.
Please send more info about fasting & ramadan.(pretty please)
**************************************************
2002-11-17

FARID SHEIKH FROM TANZANIA said:
I am a type II diabetic and i regularly exercise as well as take the prescribe medicine (Diaben) 50 mg tablet. do i have to not fast? i am well and can work there has been no significant change in my glucolevels i am using a One Touch tester (made by Johnsons & Johnsons)i always have readings between 7 to 8.5 is that okay for me to continue fasting?
2002-11-09