Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: After the fast of the month of Ramadan, the lipid balance of the elderly patients with diabetes can be modified. The aim of our study was to describe the evolution of the parameters of the lipid balance after the fast of Ramadan in a population of elderly diabetic subjects.

Patients and methods: This is a prospective evaluative study conducted in a population of 20 patients with type 2 diabetes aged over 65 years. This population had benefited from an evaluation of the clinical and metabolic parameters before and after the fast and had received education and therapeutic adjustment by referring to the recommendations of the ADA 2016.

Results: The mean age was 68.2 ± 2.4 years with extremes of 65 and 74 years. The sex ratio was 1. The average duration of diabetes was 7.7 ± 6.2 years. The average BMI was 29.5 ± 5.2 kg/m² with extremes of 23.18 and 39.87 kg/m². 75% were overweight or obese. 90% (n = 18) were classified as high or very high risk related to fasting according to the classification of the ADA 2016. The days fasted were successive with an average of 26 ± 8.7 days. The majority (80%, n = 16) had fasted the whole month. After fasting, HbA1C increased from 8.27 ± 1.82% to 8.29 ± 2.1% after fasting ( + 0.02 ± 1.73%, P = 0.957) . CT, TG, HDL and LDL were 4.29 ± 0.67, 1.43 ± 0.68, 1.05 ± 0.21 mmol/l, and 1 ± 0.24 g/l respectively, before fasting. They increased respectively after fasting to 4.37 ± 0.68 ( + 0.08 ± 0.49 mmol /l, P = 0.478), 1.46 ± 0.46 (+ 0.03 ± 0.43 mmol/l, P = 0.754), 1.02 ± 0.25 mmol / (–0.03 ± 0.17 mmol /l, P = 0.475) and at 1.03 ± 0.26 g/l ( + 0.03 ± 0.12 g/l, P = 0.216). Gender and body size before fasting were not associated with changes in lipid parameters after fasting.

Conclusion: Several studies report an improvement in lipid parameters after the fast of the month of Ramadan, particularly the elderly. However, fasting in diabetics is not recommended due to the increased risk of acute complications.