Abstract
The effect of Ramadan fasting—defined as abstinence from eating or drinking from dawn till sunset during this lunar month—on the control of diabetes mellitus was studied in 47 type II diabetic patients and in a group of non-diabetic subjects. Body weight, glycosylated hemoglobin were determined before and immediately after Ramadan in both groups while glycosylated protein was also measured in 9 diabetic patients. In the diabetic patients, there was no significant change in their weights 75.2±12.8 vs 74.1±12.4 kgs., P=NS; glycosylated hemoglobin (10.9±3.1% vs 10.5±2.8%, P=NS; glycosylated protein (1.19±0.35 vs 1.17±0.39, P=NS) after the 30 day Ramadan fast. In the non-diabetic controls, there was a statistically significant loss in weight during the Ramadan fast 74.2 ±10.4 kgs. vs 72.5±10.2 kgs., p<0.001). However, there was no significant change in their glycosylated hemoglobin (7.5±1.1% vs 7.5±1.0%, P=NS). It is concluded that the fasting which occurs during the Moslem month of Ramadan does not cause any significant weight loss and does not have any measurable impact on glycemic control in type II diabetic patients.