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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Diabetes and Endocrine Practice 2022; 05(01): 008-020
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748668
Review Article

Ramadan Fasting and Diabetes (2021): The Year in Review

Salem A. Beshyah 
1   Department of Endocrinology, Yas Clinic Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
2   Department of Medicine, Dubai Medical College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
,
Khadija Hafidh 
1   Department of Endocrinology, Yas Clinic Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
3   Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
,
Sami Kenz
4   Rashid Center for Diabetes and Research, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Ajman, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
,
Rafik R. Elmehdawi 
5   Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya
,
Gaman Mohamed
6   Comprehensive Diabetes Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
,
Mohsen Eledrisi 
7   Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
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Abstract

Introduction The literature on the impact of Ramadan fasting (RF) on diabetes is widely spread in many journals. This makes it not readily accessible to those interested in the subject. We aimed to provide a narrative overview of the global literature production in 1 year (2021) on diabetes and RF.

Materials and Methods This was a narrative, nonsystematic review of the international literature from a single major medical online database (i.e., PubMed) during the year 2021. The search term “Ramadan fasting AND Diabetes” was used, and the relevant literature was narrated in a concise thematic account.

Results The publications spanned a vast array of topics related to diabetes and RF, including epidemiology, assessments of safety and efficacy profiles of older and newer diabetes therapies, hypoglycemia, diabetes education, use of advanced technology for the treatment, and monitoring and impact on pregnancy. Some reports covered the interaction of Ramadan and the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in relationship to diabetes. Professional concerns, patients' perspectives, and telemedicine's role in RF were also addressed.

Conclusion The current narration presents this year's literature on the safety of fasting practices, care models, and patients' experiences and perspectives. Work should continue on comprehensive assessments for the interplay of diabetes and RF under different settings. Particular attention should focus on the roles of newer antidiabetic medicines and advanced technology for safer fasting practices.

Keywords

epidemiology - health care professionals - hypoglycemia - literature - patients' perspectives - Ramadan fasting - COVID-19 - Muslims

Compliance with Ethical Principles

No ethical approval is required.


Data Availability

This review is based on fully published original work cited in the references list.


Authors' Contributions

All authors contributed to the article's drafting, revision, and finalization to fulfill the ICMJE authorship criteria.


Financial Support and Sponsorship

None.




Publication History

Article published online:
19 July 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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