The effect of Ramadan fasting on plasma glucose measurements in diabetics and controls : a study at Queen Alia Military Hospital

Abstract EN

Objectives : Muslim patients with diabetes mellitus are faced with variable advice regarding fasting during Ramadan.

Most of them do fast despite advice from doctors not to.

This study aimed to show the effect of Ramadan fasting on the control of diabetes mellitus.

Methods : A randomized prospective study was performed at Queen Alia Military Hospital, during which patients with diabetes mellitus who visited various clinics were asked to take part in the study.

Patients were asked to record information regarding their diabetes mellitus, then requested to do fasting plasma glucose and to repeat the test on 15"1 of Ramadan, and within 15 days after the end of Ramadan.

Results : Thirty-five subjects took part in the study; their mean age was 55.3 + 4 years (± 95 % confidence interval of the mean), with a male : female ratio of 2.5 : 1.

The mean duration of DM was 9.9 ± 2.6 years.

All the patients were taking glibenclamide as monotherapy.

The mean ± 95 % confidence interval of the mean of fasting plasma glucose in the pre-, during, and after Ramadan were 225.3 ± 25.3 mg / dL (12.5 ± 1.4 mmolAitre), 210 ± 26.3 mg / dL (11.7 ± 1.5mmolAitre) and 214 ± 22.5 mg / dL (11.9 ± 1.25 mmolAitre), respectively.

There were no statistically significant differences between the results of the three measurements.

Conclusion : There were no deleterious effects of fasting on the control of diabetes mellitus as measured by fasting plasma glucose and symptoms.

Our advice is to individualize the decision of fasting, taking into account other complications, as well as patient's determination.