Abstract:
Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C in 24 females and 16 males with type II diabetic Libyan patients, were measured after 10 – 14 hours of Ramadan fasting. Patient's age, sex, body mass index (BMI), duration of diabetes and treatment were recorded. There were no significant differences before and at the end of Ramadan fasting in BMI and mean serum lipid profile, although, there was a trend towards decreasing the mean serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C and TG and increasing the serum level of HDL-C, these changes did not approach the statistical significance level. The mean fasting plasma glucose levels were significantly increased at the end of Ramadan fasting in males diabetic patients ( from 177.2±82.5 mg/dl at the start of Ramadan to 224.7±103.6 at the end of it) and in female diabetic patients ( from 160.6±54.7 to 215.5±66.9 mg/dl). Fasting Ramadan may be safe for the majority of diabetic patients. However, diabetic patients must continue their regular daily activity, diet regiment and adjustment of their drug treatment during Ramadan fasting.
