Ramadan fasting in people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) during the COVID-19 pandemic: The DaR global survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The DaR Global survey was conducted to observe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the intentions to fast and the outcomes of fasting in people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: Muslim people with diabetes and CKD were surveyed in 13 countries shortly after the end of Ramadan 2020, using a simple Survey Monkey questionnaire. RESULTS: This survey recruited 6736 people with diabetes, of which 707 (10.49%) had CKD. There were 118 (16.69%) people with type1 diabetes (T1D), and 589 (83.31%) were with type2 diabetes (T2D). 62 (65.24%) people with T1D and 448 (76.06%) people with T2D had fasted with CKD. Episodes of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia were more frequent among people with T1D compared to T2D, 64.52% and 43.54% vs 25.22% and 22.32% respectively. Visits to the emergency department and hospitalization were more frequent among people with CKD, however no significant difference was found between people with T1D and T2D. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic had only a minor effect on the intention to fast during Ramadan in people with diabetes and CKD. However, hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia were found to be more frequent, as well as emergency visits and hospital admissions among people with diabetic kidney disease. Prospective studies are needed in future to evaluate the risk indicators of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia among fasting people with CKD, especially in the context of different stages of kidney disease.

Fasting Ramadan in patients with T1DM - Saudi Arabia versus other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To compare Saudi Arabia with other countries regarding patient attitudes towards fasting Ramadan and complications related to fasting during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data collected from Saudi Arabia and 12 other mostly Muslim majority countries, via physician administered questionnaire within post Ramadan 2020. RESULTS: 1485 Type1 diabetes (T1DM) patients analyzed; 705 (47.5%) from Saudi Arabia vs. 780 (52.5%) from other countries. 1056 (71.1%) fasted Ramadan; 636 (90.2%) of Saudi patients vs. 420 (53.8%) of other countries. Experiencing Ramadan during the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the Saudi T1DM patients' decision to fast while it significantly influenced their decision in other countries (1.4 vs 9.9%, P < 0.001). More Saudi patients needed to break the fast due to a diabetes related complication compared to other countries (67.4% vs. 46.8%, p=<0.001). The mean number of days fasted in Saudi and other countries was 24 ± 7 and 23 ± 8 days respectively. Hypoglycemic events were more common among Saudi patients during Ramadan compared to other countries 72% and 43.6% (p < 0.001) respectively. There was a significant difference in timing; the largest peak for Saudi Arabia patients was after dawn (35% vs 7%, p < 0.001), while it was pre-sunset for the other countries (23 vs 54%, p = 0.595). Day time-hyperglycemia was also more common among Saudi patients (48.6% vs. 39%, p < 0.001), however it was a less likely cause to break the fast (25.6% vs 38.3%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Observing the fast of Ramadan is extremely common among Saudi T1DM patients compared to other Muslim countries and was not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was associated with higher frequency of hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes.

Ramadan fasting in people with type 1 diabetes during COVID-19 pandemic: The DaR Global survey.

OBJECTIVES: The DaR Global survey was conducted to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the intentions to fast and the outcomes of fasting in <18 years versus ≥18 years age groups with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). METHODS: Muslim people with T1DM were surveyed in 13 countries between June and August 2020, shortly after the end of Ramadan (23rd April-23rd May 2020) using a simple questionnaire. RESULTS: 71.1% of muslims with T1DM fasted during Ramadan. Concerns about COVID-19 were higher in individuals ≥18 years (p = 0.002). The number of participants who decided not to fast plus those who received Ramadan-focused education were significantly higher in the ≥18-year group (p < 0.05). Hypoglycemia (60.7%) as well as hyperglycemia (44.8%) was major complications of fasting during Ramadan in both groups irrespective of age. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 pandemic had minor impact on the decision to fast Ramadan in T1DM cohort. This was higher in the age group of ≥18 years compared to those <18 years group. Only regional differences were noted for fasting attitude and behavior among T1DM groups. This survey highlights the need for Ramadan focused diabetes education to improve glucose control and prevent complications during fasting.

Tackling diabetes: how nurses can make the difference.

This year, World Diabetes Day on 14 November coincides with the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, and therefore focuses on highlighting the role of nurses in the prevention and management of diabetes.Diabetes is recognized as an important cause of premature death and disability globally and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, where its prevalence has been steadily increasing since 1990. Although the annual decline of the risk of dying from a major noncommunicable disease between the ages of 30 and 70 years is slowing globally, diabetes is showing a 5% increase in attributed premature mortality. In 2016, diabetes was the direct cause of 1.6 million deaths globally and 43% of all deaths before the age of 70 years occur due to high blood glucose. Overweight and obesity are the strongest risk factors for type 2 diabetes. In addition, diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke and is a leading cause of blindness, lower limb amputation and kidney failure. A study conducted in 35 countries indicated that people living with diabetes are more likely to experience catastrophic health expenditures with an estimated increase of 4% between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, regardless of their insurance status.

COVID-19 and diabetes from IDF MENA region.

The whole world are facing the current COVID-19 pandemic, the most serious health crisis in modern times. All countries with the support of national and international agencies are making great efforts to fight this devastating pandemic with disastrous medical, economic and social consequences. This pandemic affects all people but it's serious in case of diabetes, elderly and in chronic and complicated diseases. The current work on the theme " COVID-19 and Diabetes" attempts to bring together all the data available at MENA level through medical and scientific publications. It also includes all the efforts made by the governments and the responses of associations and their efforts in this field. Even if it is admitted that diabetes with its comorbidity represents a high risk factor for severe forms and mortality, the health consequences of the epidemic, does not seem as dramatic in terms of both morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 with diabetes in the majority of MENA countries. If the crises continues longer, the supply of insulin, oral drugs, self monitoring equipment of diabetes and other tools, will be affected. To this, we must expect great difficulties in supplying food for many countries. Certainely, it is important to remember that containment and hygiene measures, associated with other factors such as the young average age of the population, the higher temperature in these countries, the differences in the immune status of populations and the role of BCG vaccine have something to do with it. All of this deserves to be studied in depth.