Table 5.

Educational interventions for patients with diabetes during Ramadan

Risk Assessment	Advise patients to seek medical advice from a physician before Ramadan to assess their risk of fasting and make recommendations.
Advise patient	Consider discussing the option of not fasting if appropriate but be prepared to hear “no.”
Exercise	Avoid rigorous exercise.
Diet	Encourage slow energy release foods (wheat, beans), not food high in fat. Iftar food is, by nature, fried. Limit dates, which are used to break fast. Limit sugar in tea. Avoid eating sweet dessert nightly; save it for Eid.
Hydration	Increase fluids, specifically water. Water is healthier than soda, juice, or sugary tea. Remember to drink water throughout the night.
Glucose monitoring	Advise patient that checking blood glucose does not constitute breaking fast.
When to break fast	Remind patients that they need to break fast if hypoglycemia does occur.

Data from Bravis V, Hui E, Salih S, et al. Ramadan Education and Awareness in Diabetes (READ) programme for Muslims with Type 2 diabetes who fast during Ramadan. Diabet Med 2010;27:327–31.