Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Daily Life and Metabolic Condition in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of Ramadan fasting on daily life routines and metabolic conditions in diabetic patients. Material and Methods: The study sample consisted of 26 patients with Type 2 diabetes who fasted during Ramadan. Data on changes daily life routine and metabolic variables were gathered before and after Ramadan, within a 10 days period. Results: Almost all patients fasted during Ramadan although they had known that fasting had some negative effects on their health, and Islamic rules allow sick people not to fast. Most of the patients declared that they rearranged morning and evening medications according to fasting hours and skipped doses between dawn and sunset, changed diet routine and eating habits including food preference. In addition, some of them changed their sleep schedule and decreased daily physical activity level because of lack of energy caused by fasting. More than half of the patients experienced at least one episode of hypoglycemia during fasting period; all hypoglycemia experiences were mild episodes. However, there was no emergency admission due to fasting-related health problems. We found neither negative nor positive effects of Ramadan on metabolic control variables including weight, HbA1c, fructosamine, C-peptide, insulin, and lipid profile. Conclusion: Ramadan fasting has no negative effects on metabolic parameters in patients with Type 2 diabetes. © 2013 by Türkiye Klinikleri.