How to manage diabetes during Ramadan

If you have diabetes, the first question is whether you should fast at all during Ramadan. Unless you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or a woman going through her menstrual period or with postnatal bleeding, you may think I don't know what I'm talking about.

After all, fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the five fundamental Pillars of Islam. That means refraining from all food (including tablets, even if swallowed dry), drinking water or any beverages, and smoking from dawn till sunset for 29-30 days, depending on when Ramadan lands in the year.

But while the Qu'ran requires Muslims to fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan, there are exceptions in addition to the above. Some illnesses do not prevent a Muslim from fasting, while others do.

With diabetes, there is no hard and fast rule - it depends on a number of factors, including the medication you are taking and other medical conditions you may have. However, it is always worth consulting your doctor even if you do think you are able to fast, as they may recommend special precautions or changes to your medications.

Type 1 diabetes

If you have type 1 diabetes, you'll be using insulin - some patients with type 2 diabetes use this, too. Insulin lowers your blood sugar, and if you use your normal dose of insulin but are fasting, you're at much higher risk of a 'hypo', or episode of low blood sugar. This can cause a variety of symptoms including poor concentration, feeling very hungry, irritability, blurred vision and confusion. In severe cases, it can lead to loss of consciousness and to abnormal heart rhythms, and occasionally it can even be fatal.

If you use insulin, always speak with your medical team before you fast. You will need to adjust your dose of insulin and you will certainly need to check your blood sugar levels more regularly.

You will need to make sure you drink plenty of fluids at the end and beginning of each day's fast, to avoid dehydration.

You should also include slowly absorbed foods, such as lentils and basmati rice, before you start your fast. If you have poorly controlled diabetes or 'hypoglycaemia unawareness', where you do not get early warning signs of low blood sugar, your doctor may advise you that it is too dangerous for you to fast.

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Hypoglycaemia

Type 2 diabetes

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be taking insulin, but most people with type 2 diabetes take tablets. Two kinds of tablets can also make you prone to hypos. The most common kind is a group of tablets called the sulfonylureas, or SUs (they all have names ending in '-ide', and one of the most common is gliclazide. The other tablet linked with hypos is called repaglinide (brand name Prandin).

People with type 2 diabetes who take SUs or repaglinide are many times more likely than people taking other tablets for type 2 diabetes to get severe hypos, which can be very dangerous.

If you're taking any of these medicines and plan to fast over Ramadan, speak with your GP about your tablets. They may advise you to change your tablets to a kind which does not carry the same risks. You should certainly watch out for signs of hypos and monitor your blood sugar. There is also a risk of overeating at Suhoor and Iftar, the meals before and after fasting, which can send blood glucose levels to dangerously high levels.

If your blood sugar drops below 4, it is dangerous to continue to fast. You need to take some fast-acting carbohydrate to prevent it from dropping further. If your doctor feels it is not safe for you to continue to fast, your Imam can advise on other ways to complete your duties without putting your health at risk.

People who either have type 2 diabetes controlled with diet and exercise, or who take other tablets (metformin, 'gliptin' tablets), are unlikely to have any special problem over fasting at Ramadan. Those taking tablets called SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin, canagliflozin, empagliflozin), as well as people with type 1 diabetes, could be at risk if they become dehydrated. The SUs and repaglinide, along with insulin, carry the same risks as explained above.