Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is an important and exciting spiritual practice for every Muslim. Diabetic patients can fast safely in most cases, if certain measures are taken into account.

Every person is different however, and fasting may affect the diabetes in some cases or even lead to serious hypoglycemic complications. Laboratory testing and a consultation with your doctor is advisable before beginning with the fasting to get individual advice what exactly to consider and how possibly to modify your diabetes management. Instructions will be provided regarding glucose monitoring, risks of fasting, glucose monitoring, nutrition, exercises. Your doctor will also advise you on needed changes of your medication.

Diabetic patients are at risk for hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia during fasting periods. The individual risk of developing these complications is divided into four groups. Fasting is not recommended for patients at very high risk for complication, while high risk patients may be allowed to fast under special observation. Low and moderate risk patients may enjoy their Ramadan fasting without restriction.

Special emphasis must be given in any case to regular timings of blood sugar control. We suggest 6 daily measurements during Ramadan: before dawn, at morning time, noon, afternoon, at Iftar and later in the evening. If the values deteriorate or the fasting person become ill, they should end the fast that day and eat and drink.

Careful attention should be given to the diet during the ‘non-fasting’ night time period. Drink plenty of water and prefer sugar free drinks to full sugar fizzy drinks. Eat fibre-rich foods including whole grain carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables to avoid constipation. Meals should be formed around carbohydrates such as rice, potatoes, bread and cereals. Focus on balanced meal without excess of sweet and fatty food.

Diabetes and risk of complication:

• Very High Risk: patients with severe or repeated hypoglycaemia, ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar coma, sustained poor glycaemic control, Type 1 diabetes, pregnancy, chronic dialysis/
• High risk: Patients with moderate hyperglycaemia, renal insufficiency, advanced vascular complications, living alone and treated with Insulin, old age with ill health
• Moderate risk: Well controlled patients with short acting Insulin secretagogues
• Low risk: Well-controlled diabetes treated with lifestyle therapy, Metformin, Acarbose, Thiazolidinediones, and/or Incretin based therapies in otherwise healthy patients

Please join our Amber Diabetes Registry or our Amber Diabetes Patient Education Program

Our highly specialized interdisciplinary Diabetes Care Team is looking forward to take care of you. As Amber Clinics consider Diabetes Registry and Interactive Diabetes Education as a Corporate Social Responsibility, attendance of both programs is free of cost for everybody.

Please contact us if you have questions.

email: care@amberclinics.com

cell phone: 050 153 0873

Amber Clinics: Amber Clinics: Rigga, International City
Al Noor Polyclinics: Deira and Satwa
Dr Joseph Polyclinic: Karama, Qusais