Diabetes Canada Position Statement for People With Types 1 and 2 Diabetes Who Fast During Ramadan

Fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, including abstaining from water and food, is 1 of the pillars of Islam and is observed by the majority of Muslims. Most research concerning diabetes and fasting during Ramadan originates from Middle Eastern or South Asian countries; however, differences exist in hours of work and fasting, pharmacotherapy and blood glucose monitoring between these countries and Canada. An expert forum of 7 Canadian experts and 1 international expert collaborated to develop Canadian guidelines using the same evidence-based principles, with the exception of an independent methods review used for the Diabetes Canada clinical practice guidelines. Diabetes Canada scientific leadership and Canadian health-care providers performed independent external reviews. Religious leaders endorsed the position statement and provided letters of support. An informed patient participated in the position-statement development. Each recommendation was approved with 100% consensus of the expert forum. Recommendations for risk stratification, education, pharmacotherapy and blood glucose monitoring for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who intend to fast during Ramadan have been developed. This is the first Canadian position statement on the topic of Ramadan fasting and diabetes. It was developed by an expert faculty and endorsed by Diabetes Canada, and provides guidance about pharmacotherapy and glucose monitoring for health-care providers so that they can assist Canadian Muslims living with diabetes to observe fasting during Ramadan safely. Le jeûne de l'aube au crépuscule pendant le Ramadan, incluant une abstinence d'eau et de nourriture, est l'un des piliers de l'islam et est observé par la majorité des musulmans. La plupart des recherches concernant le diabète et le jeûne pendant le Ramadan proviennent des pays du Moyen-Orient ou d'Asie du Sud; Cependant, il existe des différences concernant les heures de travail et de jeûne, la pharmacothérapie et la surveillance de la glycémie entre ces pays et le Canada. Un forum d'experts composé de sept experts canadiens et d'un expert international a collaboré afin d'établir des lignes directrices canadiennes en utilisant les mêmes principes que celles utilisées pour les lignes directrices de pratique clinique de Diabète Canada, fondées sur des données probantes, à l'exception d'un examen de méthodes indépendantes. La direction scientifique de Diabète Canada et les prestataires de soins canadiens ont effectué