Elamin I E Abdelgadir, Khadija Hafidh, Alaaeldin M K Basheir, Bachar O Afandi, Fatheya Alawadi, Fauzia Rashid, Lina Majd, Sana Roubi and Mohamed M Hassanein
1.7 billion Muslims worldwide obey religious commands of fasting for a month. This may increase morbidity in people with diabetes.
Objective: Comparing the rate and duration of admissions with diabetic ketoacidosis and the leading precipitating factors during Ramadan and in the following month (Shawal) were our primary and secondary endpoints, respectively.
Design and methods: This was a prospective study that included all Muslims who were admitted with DKA to three major hospitals in United Arab Emirates during Ramadan and Shawal. Demographics, clinical, and laboratory indices were collected and analyzed to assess primary and secondary end points.
Results: 48 patients were admitted during the study duration, 20 were admitted during Ramadan and 28 in Shawal. All those admitted during Ramadan were people with type1 diabetes while 4 of those admitted during Shawal were people with type 2 diabetes. 75% of those admitted during Ramadan did not receive structured education program on diabetes management in Ramadan. Urinary tract infections represented the commonest cause for admission in both months. Hospital stay was longer during Ramadan compared to Shawal (p=0.04). The average HbA1c was lower in Ramadan group; moreover, frequency of DKA admissions in 6 months period before Ramadan was higher in Ramadan group (P= 0.05).
Conclusion: Our study showed lower rate of DKA admissions, but longer hospital stay during Ramadan compared to the following month. The average HbA1c was lower in patients admitted during Ramadan; moreover, frequency of DKA admissions in 6 months period before Ramadan was higher in Ramadan group (P=0.05).