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Fasting In Ramadan With Diabetes

E

Ehab.aali

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Ramadan is a special Islamic occasion where the people should not eat or drink anything from the sunrise to the sunset. This occasion continues for 30 days each year.

As a diabetic, you have the choice either to fast it or not, however, most Muslim diabetics do their best to fast in the holy month. My main challenge during the days in Ramadan was trying my best to stabilize my blood sugar within the healthy range, and to do my best to avoid hypos before the sunset time.

What do you know about this occasion, and if you’ve experienced fasting it, how did you find it?
 

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Hi @ Ehab.aali,
I am not of a faith that practices Ramadan , but I have fasted for surgery in the past. And I have been on insulin for 51 years.
If you could supply some information about your insulin regime it would make things easier to discuss your question.
For me on an insulin pump, I rely on the basal insulin regime programmed into my pump to cope with fasting.
I assume you are allowed water and that the fast is not more than 24 hours. I find that if I fast > 18 hours I start to develop ketones which can cause resistance to insulin. So 12 hours is my self-imposed limit for fasting.
I hope that helps and I look forward to hearing more from you.
Best Wishes.
 
Welcome to the forum @Ehab.aali . Eid Mubarak.
I'm not Type 1 so can't help with your question. I have fasted over Lent, but that was just abstaining from food until sunset which is only about from 7am-7pm in UK in March/April. It must be a lot harder to also abstain from water, especially in a hot climate and for a longer period.
I'll tag forum member @hichamgsm who was fasting over Ramadan. He is Type 2 but might be able to give some advice.
 
Last edited:
kitedoc said:
Hi @ Ehab.aali,
I am not of a faith that practices Ramadan , but I have fasted for surgery in the past. And I have been on insulin for 51 years.
If you could supply some information about your insulin regime it would make things easier to discuss your question.
For me on an insulin pump, I rely on the basal insulin regime programmed into my pump to cope with fasting.
I assume you are allowed water and that the fast is not more than 24 hours. I find that if I fast > 18 hours I start to develop ketones which can cause resistance to insulin. So 12 hours is my self-imposed limit for fasting.
I hope that helps and I look forward to hearing more from you.
Best Wishes.
Click to expand...

Thanks @kitedoc

In the normal days I take 20 units Tresiba (Long acting) and 1 unit/10 grams of carbs. But in Ramadan I reduced the long acting insulin to 16 units and I have maintained the same carbs ratio.

With regards to fasting in the Middle East, we are fasting about 15 hours, after that it is recommended to drink a lot of water for the next 9 hours to avoid developing ketones
 
Ehab.aali said:
Thanks @kitedoc

In the normal days I take 20 units Tresiba (Long acting) and 1 unit/10 grams of carbs. But in Ramadan I reduced the long acting insulin to 16 units and I have maintained the same carbs ratio.

With regards to fasting in the Middle East, we are fasting about 15 hours, after that it is recommended to drink a lot of water for the next 9 hours to avoid developing ketones
Click to expand...
Hi Ehab.aali,
I think taking insulin and carbohydrate as well as the water would help reduce the ketones more quickly.
 
Interesting question! As a non-Muslim, I respect the presonal strength, faith and committment shown during Ramadan. Having worked in Islamic countries during Ramadan, I know I would struggle to avoid drinking during the fast. My understanding is that there are dispensations for people with medical conditions, but as an act of faith, you're encouraged to do your best. And as a diabetic, I guess the main thing would be to make sure people are aware in case you hypo.
 
Just be thank full you don't live in Iceland or if you do live in Iceland my commiserations.

Oh and welcome and Eid Mubarak (Have a blessed Holiday)
 
JohnEGreen said:
Just be thank full you don't live in Iceland or if you do live in Iceland my commiseration.
Click to expand...
But I suppose it would be a lot easier when Ramadan falls in the Icelandic winter and sunrise and sunset are close together.
 
22 hours of fasting would be hard going.Though the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo, one of the world’s most respected Islamic institutes, has ruled that Muslims should not fast for more than 18 hours a day.

“We are not supposed to starve to death,” says Salman Tamimi, head of the Muslim Association of Iceland. Some communities, like the 1,000 or so Icelandic Muslims, therefore follow a fatwa (Islamic ruling) which recommends observing the fast times of the 45th parallel.
 
Hi @Ehab.aali i am a catholic in my religion we can fast if we choose or give up something we like (chocolate,tv,coffee etc)I have never taken part in a fast as I think I would be too risky for me but this year I gave up Diet Coke during lent maybe youcould give something up? Or compromise like you don’t eat but you drink liquids with glucose in them? Hope this helps
 
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