How to Safely Guide Diabetic Patients Through Ramadan

Each year, Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. This year, Ramadan begins Sunday, May 5 and ends Tuesday, June 4.

Day long fasting, followed by feasting can present conundrums for the care of patients with diabetes. A patient may fear that their physician is not knowledgeable about the intricacies of Ramadan and hesitate to ask for advice.  Anecdotal reports of patients relying on the counsel of friends, family, and Dr. Google are common. Some stop taking diabetes medications altogether during the time of fasting.

In an article for Medscape titled “Fielding the Dangers of Fasting and Feasting With Diabetes: How to Safely Guide Your Patients Through Ramadan,” Akshay B. Jain, M.D. shares a story from his own practice, of a diabetic Muslim patient who, after months of improvement and model behavior, was rushed unconscious to the emergency room with severe hypoglycemia, eleven hours into a fast. Dr. Jain offers an in-depth look at the practices of Ramadan’s fasting and feasting, ethical best practices, and clinical tips to develop individual plans to safely guide diabetic patients through Ramadan. Read more at MedScape …