Diabetes and Ramadan -Quick guide

Dr.Fatimah Alkawai, consultant Diabetes Management

Adopted from international diabetes federation, diabetes and Ramadan international alliance-IDF-DAR Practical Guidelines
Content

1. Elements for risk calculation and suggested risk score for people
with diabetes mellitus that seek to fast during Ramadan.

2. How to calculate risk score, risk stratification

3. Medication adjustment
Risk stratification

• For a given individual, each risk element should be assessed,

and the score should be calculated.

• The resulting score will determine the overall risk level for an
individual with diabetes that is seeking to fast during Ramadan.

• The following table includes the new IDF-DAR elements for risk
calculation and the relevant risk score
Risk score calculation
• Individuals who are in the high risk category should not fast

• Those at the moderate risk level are advised not to fast.

• Those at the low risk level should be able to fast.

When to break the fast
Medication adjustments –Metformin
Medication adjustments- sulfonylurea
Medication adjustments

Acarbose
• No RCTS have been conducted on acarbose in people with T2DM that fast during
ramadan.

• No dose modification is considered necessary as the risk of hypoglycemia is low

Pipglitazon
• No dose modification is required during ramadan, but dose should be taken with iftar.
Medication adjustments

Acarbose
• No RCTS have been conducted on acarbose in people with T2DM that fast
during ramadan.

• No dose modification is considered necessary as the risk of hypoglycemia is low

Pipglitazon
• No dose modification is required during ramadan, but dose should be taken with
iftar.
Medication adjustments- long and short acting insulin
Medication adjustments- premixed insulin
Reference
International Diabetes Federation (IDF), in collaboration with the

Diabetes and Ramadan (DAR) International Alliance- Diabetes and Ramadan practical guideline Jan
2021

For any suggestion contact me on my e-mail fatimah.alkawai@gmail.com