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Fasting guidelines for diabetic children and adolescents
Kiswhar Azad1, Fauzia Mohsin1, Abdul Hamid Zargar2, Bedowra Zabeen1, Jamal Ahmad3, Syed Abbas Raza4, Samin Tayyeb1, Sarita Bajaj5, Osama Ishtiaq6, Sanjay Kalra7
1 Paediatrics, BIRDEM and Ibrahim Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2 Department of Endocrinology, Advanced Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Care, Srinagar, India
3 Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, J. N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
4 Endocrinologist, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan
5 MLN Medical College, Allahabad, India
6 Endocrinologist, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan
7 BHARTI Hospital and B.R.I.D.E., Karnal, India
Correspondence Address:
Fauzia Mohsin
Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, BIRDEM General Hospital-2 (Mohila O Shishu), 1/A, Ibrahim Sharani, Shegun Bagicha, Dhaka-1000
Bangladesh
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2230-8210.97998
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Fasting during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic lunar calendar, is obligatory for all healthy adult and adolescent Muslims from the age of 12 years. Fasting starts from early dawn (Sohur/Sehri) till sunset (Iftar). During this period one has to abstain from eating and drinking. Islam has allowed many categories of people to be exempted from fasting, for example, young children, travelers, the sick, the elderly, pregnant, and lactating women. According to expert opinion, patients with type 1 diabetes (type 1 DM) who fast during Ramadan are at a very high risk to develop adverse events. However, some experienced physicians are of the opinion that fasting during Ramadan is safe for type 1 DM patients, including adolescents and older children, with good glycemic control who do regular self-monitoring and are under close professional supervision. The strategies to ensure safety of type 1 diabetic adolescents who are planning to fast include the following: Ramadan-focused medical education, pre-Ramadan medical assessment, following a healthy diet and physical activity pattern, modification in insulin regimen, and blood glucose monitoring as advised by the physician. |
