Effects of pre-Ramadan education on safe Ramadan fasting of people with type 2 diabetes

Authors

  • Md Fariduddin Professor of Endocrionolgy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka
  • AKM Aminul Islam Associate Professor of Endocrinology, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka
  • Md Abu Jar Gaffar Lecturer, Department of Physiology, Naogaon Medical College, Naogaon
  • Murshed Ahamed Khan Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka
  • Md Jahangir Alam Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College, Bogura
  • Mashfiqul Hasan Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital, Dhaka
  • Mohammad Atiqur Rahman Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital, Dhaka
  • Yasmin Aktar Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Bangladesh Medical College Hospital, Dhaka
  • Nusrat Sultana Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka
  • Hurjahan Banu Consultant Endocrinologist, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka
  • Jobaida Naznin Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka
  • A H M Shadequl Islam Consultant Endocrinologist, Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital, Khulna
  • Nazma Akhtar Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, Gazipur
  • Sandesh Panthi Consultant Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, Grande International Hospital, Kathmandu
  • Bajarang Kumar Rauniyar Consultant Endocrinologist, Alka Hospital Pvt Ltd, Kathmandu
  • Md Asaduzzaman Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital, Khulna
  • Muhammad Abdul Halim Khan Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka
  • Kazi Ashraful Alam Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Colonel Malek Medical College, Manikganj
  • Md Anowar Hossain Associate Professor of Endocrinology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/jacedb.v1i1.78353

Keywords:

Bangladesh, Diabetes, Fasting, Ramadan, T2 diabetes

Abstract

Background: Most of the people with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) fast during the holy month of Ramadan in Bangladesh. Safe Ramadan fasting is a great challenge for both physician and people with diabetes.

Objectives: This study was conducted to observe the effects of Ramadan-focused structured education programs on weight, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), biochemical parameters and hypoglycemic episodes during Ramadan in Bangladeshi adult people with T2DM who intend to fast.

Methods: This prospective study recruited 615 participants with T2DM two months before the month of Ramadan in 2014 at the Endocrinology department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. A 2-hour structured education program was provided to 286 participants (group A) and 329 participants received the usual education provided by the treating physician (group B). All participants were followed up during and upto 1 month after Ramadan.

Results: A significant reduction in the HbA1c level from pre-Ramadan to post-Ramadan was seen in both the groups (group A: 8.3±1.7%vs7.6±1.3,p<0.001; group B 8.2±1.6vs 7.7±1.4,p<0.001; mean±SD). But there were no difference of HbA1c, serum creatinine, SGPT or body weight from pre-Ramadan to post-Ramadan in either of the groups (p=ns for all). Similarly, there was no significant difference between group-A and group-B in respect of pre-Ramadan or post-Ramadan HbA1c, serum creatinine, SGPT or body weight (p=ns for all). Pre-Ramadan hypoglycemia frequency was higher in group A (51/286, 17.8%) than group B (12/329, 3.6%; p<0.001); but statistically similar hypoglycemia frequency during Ramadan was observed in both the groups (group A vs. group B: 0.3% vs. 1.8%, p=0.129). Both group A and group B participants had reduced frequency of hypoglycemia during Ramadan in comparison to those experienced 3-months prior Ramadan (p<0.001 and p=0.031 respectively) but the reduction is more marked in group A.

Conclusions: Pre-Ramadan education especially when structured has significant beneficial effects on safe Ramadan fasting reflected by reduced HbA1c and hypoglycemia frequency.

J Assoc Clin Endocrinol Diabetol Bangladesh, January 2022; 1 (1): 09-14

 

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Published

2025-08-06

How to Cite

Fariduddin, M., Islam, A. A., Gaffar, M. A. J., Khan, M. A., Alam, M. J., Hasan, M., … Hossain, M. A. (2025). Effects of pre-Ramadan education on safe Ramadan fasting of people with type 2 diabetes. Journal of Association of Clinical Endocrinologist and Diabetologist of Bangladesh, 1(1), 9–14. https://doi.org/10.3329/jacedb.v1i1.78353

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Original Article

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Md. Fariduddin, AKM Aminul Islam, Md. Abu Jar Gaffar, Murshed Ahamed Khan, Md. Jahangir Alam, Mashfiqul Hasan, Mohammad Atiqur Rahman, Yasmin Aktar, Nusrat Sultana, Hurjahan Banu, Jobaida Naznin, AHM Shadequl Islam, Nazma Akhtar, Sandesh Panthi, Bajarang Kumar Rauniyar, Md. Asaduzzaman, Muhammad Abdul Halim Khan, Kazi Ashraful Alam, Md. Anowar Hossain

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.