Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: International recommendations prohibit fasting of the month of Ramadan in patients with diabetes, particularly unbalanced ones.

The aim of our study was to describe the evolution of the glycemic balance in unbalanced diabetics with an HbA1C before the fasting greater than 10%.

Patients and Methods: This is a descriptive evaluative study carried out on 25 patients with type 2 and with an HbA1C before fasting greater than 10%. These patients were advised not to fast and the risks involved were explained to them. Then they had an education and a therapeutic adjustment by referring to the recommendations of the Amercian Diabetes Association (ADA)of 2016.

Results: The average age was 56.5 8.8 years with extremes of 35 and 70 years. The sex ratio was 0.62. The average duration of the progression of diabetes was 9 ± 6.4 years. The average body mass index (BMI) was 28.8 ± 6.1 kg/m² with extremes of 20.5 and 45.1 kg /m². 72% were overweight or obese. The days fasted were successive with an average of 20.3 ± 9.6 days. (48% (n = 12) had fasted for the entire month. After the fasting, HbA1C had increased from 10.26 ± 1.58% to 10.78 ± 0.92% after fasting (+0,52 ± 1.7%, P = 0.137). 19.2% (n = 5) had hypoglycaemia motivating the cessation of fasting in 15.3% (n = 4). 11.5% (n = 3) had hyperglycemia justifying the end of the fast in all cases.

Conclusion: Fasting for the month of Ramadan should be strongly discouraged in very unbalanced diabetic patients given the risks involved, including hypoglycemia and glycemic imbalance.