[Effects of Ramadan fasting on diabetes mellitus: a review article]

ABSTRACT

In islam, there are several objectives for fasting which include spiritual, psychological, social and physiological health promotion. However fasting is prohibited for women with special physiological status, patients, children, and elderly people. This study has reviewed the effects of fasting on metabolic control of diabetic patients, published in literature. In this study pubmed, sciruse, findarticles, irandoc, Sir base and Google search engines have been searched for publication on the related subject. We used key words of Ramadan, Moslem, metabolic control and diabetes mellitus to search these database. The outcome of our search showed great diversity among the results reported by different authors. Some reported that Fasting reduces some of the biochemical index and increased HDL cholestol. Other surveys concluded that fasting causes hypoglycaemia. Based on the results of many studies, Fasting did not change FBS, Insulin, C-peptide, TG, HbA1C, fructosamine, but it could lead to Hypoglycemia and reduction of body weight. According to many studies, fasting is prohibited for IDDM patients and it is needed for NIDDM patients to be evaluated before fasting. Patients must be aware of the effect of diet, drugs regimen and physical activity. We also suggest both studies in national and international scales