[Continuous glucose monitoring in glimipiride plus metformin treated type 2 diabetic patients during Ramadan month]

Fasting during Ramadan may be a cause of poor glycaemic control in diabetic patients. To assess glucose excursions during Ramadan by using a continuous glucose monitoring system [CGMS]. The interstitial glucose level was recorded over 72 hours during Ramadan and three months later, in five type 2 diabetic patients, aged 56 +/- 5, treated with glimepiride and metformin. During Ramadan, four patients experienced at least one episode of low glucose level [<0.7 g/l] during the monitoring. The frequency of these episodes was 0.6 episode/d with an average duration of 36 mn / d. These episodes occurred in the morning in half of the cases and in the hour before breaking the fast in 37.5% of the cases. Four patients experienced at least one episode of high glucose level [>1.8 g/l], with an average duration of 403 mn /d and with a frequency of two episodes /d. More than half episodes [53] occurred after the breaking of the fast. After Ramadan, CGM records showed at least one episode of low glucose in two patients with an average duration of 58 mn /d and a frequency of 1.3 episodes/d. Three patients experienced at least one episode of high glucose level with an average duration of 525 mn /d and a frequency of 1.46 episodes/day. The blood glucose profile of our patients during Ramadan is characterized by important glycaemic excursions