Attitudes and habits of patients with type 1 diabetes during fasting Ramadan

Objective: Fasting Ramadan is associated with changes in lifestyle patterns of patients with diabetes who choose to perform fasting. We aimed to determine the attitude and habits of patients with type 1 diabetes during fasting Ramadan. Methods: The study comprised a prospective cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes who were on insulin pump or multiple daily insulin injections (MDI) regimen. Patient questionnaires included the frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), the need to make changes in insulin regimen by patients, timings of insulin administration, performing carbohydrate counting and levels of physical activity. Results: A total of 156 patients were studied (61 patients on insulin pump and 95 patients on MDI). Patients on pump therapy performed SMBG more frequently than those on MDI regimen (4.8 +/- 1.4 and 3.7 +/- 1.7 times per day, respectively, P = 0.001) and were more likely to perform carbohydrate counting (32.7% and 8.4% of pump and MDI patients, respectively, P < 0.001). There was no difference in the percentage of patients who made changes in insulin doses (74.5% of the pump group and 77.3% of MDI patients) or those who had any level of physical activity (12.5% of the pump group and 21.1% of the MDI group). The timing of administering meal insulin in relation to sunset meal was variable with a preference to taking the injection immediately at sunset. There was no difference in glucose control between both groups as measured by frucotsamine levels or the number of days that patients have to stop fasting. Conclusion: Fasting Ramadan is associated with significant and variable changes in the attitude and behaviors of patients with type 1 diabetes with no difference in glucose control between patients on insulin pump or MDI regimen. Further studies are needed to define the role of education and its effect on these attitudes and patient care in this population.