The literature on health aspects of Ramadan fasting (RF) is widely spread in many
journals, making it not readily accessible to those interested in the subject. We
aimed to provide a narrative overview of the global literature production in 1 year
(2020) on diabetes and RF. This was a narrative, nonsystematic review of the international
literature from a single major medical online database (i.e., PubMed) during the year
2020. The search term “Ramadan fasting AND Diabetes” was used, and the relevant literature
was narrated in a concise thematic account. The publications spanned a vast array
of topics related to RF, including assessments of safety and efficacy profiles of
older and newer diabetes therapies, modes of insulin delivery, evaluating the role
of utilizing advanced technology for the treatment, and monitoring of blood glucose
during RF. Increased interest was evident in capturing patients' perspectives and
healthcare professionals' perceptions, attitudes, and practices during Ramadan. Fasting
by high-risk groups was studied. Not surprisingly, some reports covered COVID-19 and
Ramadan and the role of telemedicine in ramadan. The current literature review presents
this year's research data on the safety of fasting practices, care models, and patients'
experiences and perspectives. It emphasizes the need for more comprehensive interventions
for high-risk patients, promoting newer antidiabetic medicines, and advanced technology
for safer fasting practices.
Keywords
Children and adolescents - diabetes - diabetic ketoacidosis - epidemiology - healthcare
professionals - high-risk patients - hypoglycemia - literature - patients' perspectives
- perceptions - Ramadan fasting - COVID-19 - ethnic - muslims
