Diabetes and Ramadan: A multicenter study in Algerian population

The aims of this study are to describe the behaviour of an Algerian population with diabetes and the consequences of fasting.

In 2017, a prospective multicenter study was conducted in 26 counties before and after fasting. The study concerned 901 patients with 836 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 65 with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

The average age for T2DM and T1DM was 57.86 ± 10.44 and 45.8 ± 17.69 years respectively. The duration of diabetes was 9.09 ± 8.19 for T1DM and 7.87 ± 5.97 years for T2DM. 89.1% of T2DM and 69.2% of T1DM fasted during Ramadan. 51.4% of T2DM were classified among the high and very high risk. The average glycemia increased (162 ± 49 mg/dL vs. 197 ± 65 mg/dl) (p 0.035 × 10^-6)]. About 30% of patients had hypoglycemic episodes. Self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) during Ramadan was not conform to the physicians' advice and thus significantly lowered than suggested (2.6 vs. 3.4 per day). The therapeutic adjustment was mainly a reduction in insulin dose and glucose-lowering agents.

Diabetic patients insist on fasting regardless of their doctors' warnings. The main consequences were hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. SMBG was less checked during Ramadan. Therapeutic education remains unsufficient and needs much more emphasis.