Ramadan Fasting and Type 1 Diabetes in Arab Youth: What a New Study Found

Researchers wanted to learn how Arab children, adolescents, and young adults with diabetes experience fasting during Ramadan—a significant religious observance involving abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours. Fasting can affect blood sugar control and increase the risk of serious complications, so understanding real-world experiences helps health care providers and families prepare.

The study used an online questionnaire distributed through social media to reach 242 participants across Arab countries. Most were between 13 and 17 years old (50.8%), and 95.9% had type 1 diabetes. All responses were self-reported, meaning participants recalled and shared their own experiences and data.

Before Ramadan began, the study found that some participants already faced blood sugar challenges. About 11.5% had experienced diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in the previous 3 months, and 5.0% had experienced severe hypoglycemia during that same period.

A notable finding was that 26.0% of participants reported hypoglycemia unawareness—a condition where the body does not send clear warning signals when blood sugar drops too low. This can make it harder for people to recognize and treat low blood sugar quickly.

Only about 45.5% of the young people reported that their physicians gave them permission to fast during Ramadan. This suggests that many participants may have fasted without explicit medical approval, or that medical guidance was not clearly communicated.

Age played a role in who was allowed to fast. Older participants (aged 13–25 years) were more likely to receive permission from their doctors and completed more fasting days than younger children.

During Ramadan, the study documented complications in some participants. Diabetic ketoacidosis occurred in 6.2% of those surveyed, and 2.5% experienced severe hypoglycemia. The median number of fasting days completed was 22, with participants fasting anywhere from 0 to 30 days.

These findings highlight that while many young people with type 1 diabetes can fast during Ramadan, complications are still possible and require careful monitoring.

This research provides a snapshot of Ramadan fasting experiences among Arab youth with type 1 diabetes, but it has important limitations. The study used a non-random online sample, meaning results may not represent all young people with diabetes across Arab countries. All data came from self-reports, which can be subject to memory gaps or differences in how people interpret their experiences.

The findings underscore the importance of clear communication between young people with type 1 diabetes, their families, and their health care providers before and during Ramadan. Medical guidance, blood sugar monitoring, and emergency preparedness can help reduce the risk of serious complications.

Source: Frontiers in endocrinology. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.