Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: During Ramadan, diabetic patients should be encouraged to maintain normal physical activity. The physical efforts involved in the “Taraweeh” prayers, are considered part of their daily physical activity. Patients are more likely to reach their HbA1c targets and reduce weight when night prayers are performed.

Objectives: The objective of our study was to assess the impact of the "Taraweeh" prayer on glycemic control and weight change, to assess the risk of hypoglycaemia linked to these prayers, and thus to assess the possibility of encluding these prayers into the diabetes care during Ramadan.

Materials and Methods: Prospective case-control study conducted at the Endocrinology-Diabetology Department of the UHC Ibn Rochd – Casablanca, in type 2 diabetic patients. The study group included 100 subjects practicing the “Taraweeh” prayers, and the control group 100 patients not practicing them.

Results: The average age of our patients was 54 years (38-69 years). In pre-Ramadan the average HbA1c was 8.7%, and the average weight 87.4 kg. Among our patients, 83.7% did not practice any physical activity before Ramadan, and 62.5% were fasting. According to the days of prayers performed, the patients in the study group were divided into 3 groups: <10 days (8.4%), 10-20 days (76.6%), >20 days (15%). Among our participants, 89% walked an average of 5 min to the mosque. On destiny’s night, prayers were performed by 86.2% of the patients, with an average of 20 “rakaa”. In comparison with the control group, a reduction in HbA1c of 1.8% (0.7-2.3) on average was observed in our patients (P<0.001), with an average weight loss of 5.6 kg (P<0.001). This is proportional to the number of days of prayers performed, and all the more so in fasting patients. Hypoglycemia was concomitant with prayers in 27.8% of our patients, with a preponderance in patients on insulin or on sulfonylureas, and in particular on destiny’s night.

Conclusion: The "Taraweeh" prayers must be included into the daily physical activity of our diabetic patients, allowing them to achieve a better glycemic balance, as well as weight loss at the end of the holy month. Hence the interest of motivating them to this practice during the pre-Ramadan consultation, with caution to avoid hypoglycaemia.