To explore the association of Ramadan fasting with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in people with diabetes

To explore the association of Ramadan fasting with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in people with diabetes.This observational study was conducted at Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology between May-July 2017. Informed consent was taken from each study participant. Demographic and baseline data was recorded. DASS-21 scale was used to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress pre and post Ramadan.A total of one hundred and fifty people with diabetes participated in this study. 100 people were in fasting group and 50 were in non-fasting group. In fasting group pre-Ramadan depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were present in 45%, 45%,49% of people which improved to 23%, 26%, 35% post Ramadan (p-value0.0001,0.0001, 0.001) respectively. In non-fasting group pre-Ramadan depression and anxiety symptoms were present in 34%, and 50% of people, which improved to 30% and 40% post Ramadan (p-value 0.625, 0.227) respectively, while no improvement was observed in stress symptoms.There is significant improvement in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in people with diabetes post-Ramadan fasting.