Experience with diabetic adolescents observing ramadan fasting

Abstract

Background and Aims: Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is an obligatory duty for all healthy adult Muslims. Fasting can be a major challenge for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) as they have to keep good glycemic control to avoid complications. Limited data was published regarding the safety of fasting Ramadan in adolescent patients with T1DM. We have therefore conducted this study addressing the question “Can adolescents with T1DM fast safely during the Holy month of Ramadan, without getting significant hypo/hyperglycemia?” Patients and Methods: This is an observational, prospective, single center study, conducted during Ramadan 2013. Twenty-three patients were observed (7 males, 16 females). Median age was 14 years. All of them had T1DM, and were planning to observe the fast during Ramadan. They were provided with dairies to be filled by the parents or the adolescents themselves (with parental supervision), indicating the days they fasted/didn't fast, and the reasons for not fasting e.g. hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, menstrual period, sickness or other reasons. Patients were also asked to record the blood glucose readings and their insulin doses on daily basis. They were asked to bring their folders back to the Diabetic clinic after Ramadan. Outcome measures obtained included the percentages of the days fasted/not-fasted, the reasons for not fasting, HbA1c changes, and a comparison between patients on multiple daily injections and those on insulin pump. Moreover, we studied the relationship between the number of days not-fasted due to diabetes related issues and the HbA1c before Ramadan. Results: Patients were able to fast 79.9% of the total days eligible for fasting, while 20.1% of the days were not fasted due to either hypoglycemia (29.1%), hyperglycemia (19.4%) or other reasons (51.5%). None of the patients developed severe hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis. There was a mild increment in mean HbA1c after Ramadan (from 8.3% to 8.5%). The patients on insulin pump tended to fast more days than those taking multiple daily injections (82.8% versus 77.3% out of the total eligible days). Patients who had able to fast more days without diabetes related problems tended to have had a marginally better glycemic control before Ramadan (8.3% versus 8.7%). Conclusions: Adolescent patients with T1DM wishing to fast during the holy month of Ramadan may contemplate doing this under medical supervision. The use of insulin pump therapy may help patients to fast more easily and have better control. Adequate education and good glycemic control prior to Ramadan is associated with better outcome.

Impact of Ramadan Fasting on Metabolic Control in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes in Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia

“…Overall, 69% of the total sample population completed the fasting, which is similar to smallbased population studies indicating that Ramadan fasting is a safe practice for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus [4,8]. Of note, there was a significant gender difference with a female predominance in the two groups however data in this aspect showed diversities and all of which were of small size sample [2,9,10]. Nevertheless, Ramadan fasting is still considered a risk factor for developing acute complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia, particularly in conditions of unplanned fasting [10].…”

“…Subsequently, pediatricians in several healthcare centers agree that adolescents may fast if they have good glycemic control, hypoglycemia symptom awareness, and frequent home glucose monitoring (GM) during the fast [2].…”

ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines 2022: Ramadan and other religious fasting by young people with diabetes

“…In many diabetes centers managing Muslim populations, healthcare professionals agree that adolescents can fast if they have reasonable glycemic control, good hypoglycemia awareness, and the willingness to frequently monitor their BGLs during fasting 33 . A recent survey indicated that almost 80% of physicians looking after children and adolescents with diabetes would allow them to fast if they wished 32 …”