SHOULD DIABETIC PREGNANT MOTHERS FAST DURING RAMADAN

Objectives: To study the effects of Ramadan fasting on the control of diabetes in different groups of pregnant diabetic mothers, Design: Pro spective study. Setting: Hospital setting, gestational diabetic clinic . Subjects: Forty three Saudi pregnant diabetic mothers were studied. Twenty three patients were on diabetic diet (Group I), 11 patients on 2 injections of regular insulin per day ( Group II) and 12 patients ma naged with 3 injections of insulin per day (Group III). Measures: Fast ing and post prandial blood glucose levels were compared in the patien ts studied before and during Ramadan. Results: No significant changes occurred in blood glucose levels during Ramadan, In group I post prand ial blood glucose levels did actually improve significantly (p< 0.05). None of the patients experienced clinically significant hypoglycemia. Conclusion: Ramadan fasting may be allowed for some pregnant diabetic mothers including those on diet of simple insulin regimens.