Outcomes for patients who had type 2 diabetes, completed preRamadan and postRamadan surveys and fasted ≥2 days during Ramadan, stratified by control and intervention group
| Characteristic | Total population | Control group | Intervention group | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | 774 | 259 | 515 | |
| Mean number of days fasted | 26±4 | 26±4 | 27±4 | 0.0257 |
| Did you receive diabetes education before Ramadan? (missing=3) | <0.0001 | |||
| Yes | 721 (94%) | 216 (84%) | 505 (98%) | |
| No | 50 (6%) | 41 (16%) | 9 (2%) | |
| For those who received education before Ramadan, the content of the diabetes education included… | ||||
| Change in medication type | 245 (32%) | 19 (7%) | 226 (44%) | <0.0001 |
| Change in medication dose | 313 (40%) | 43 (16%) | 270 (52%) | <0.0001 |
| Change in medication timing | 582 (75%) | 165 (64%) | 417 (81%) | <0.0001 |
| Change in frequency of glucose monitoring | 392 (51%) | 73 (28%) | 319 (62%) | <0.0001 |
| Recognition and treatment of hypoglycemia | 657 (85%) | 190 (74%) | 467 (91%) | <0.0001 |
| Recognition and treatment of hyperglycemia | 381 (49%) | 76 (29%) | 305 (59%) | <0.0001 |
| Recognition of when to break the fast | 389 (50%) | 81 (31%) | 308 (60%) | <0.0001 |
| Meal planning | 362 (47%) | 75 (29%) | 287 (56%) | <0.0001 |
| Physical activity | 332 (43%) | 60 (23%) | 272 (53%) | <0.0001 |
| Did you receive diabetes education during Ramadan? (missing=15) | <0.0001 | |||
| Yes | 276 (36%) | 28 (11%) | 248 (49%) | |
| No | 483 (63%) | 229 (89%) | 254 (51%) | |
| Were you advised by a physician to modify diabetes treatment plan during Ramadan? (missing=27) | <0.0001 | |||
| Yes | 689 (92%) | 202 (83%) | 487 (97%) | |
| No | 58 (8%) | 41 (17%) | 17 (3%) | |
| Did you modify diabetes treatment plan during Ramadan? (missing=8) | <0.0001 | |||
| Yes | 720 (94%) | 222 (88%) | 498 (97%) | |
| No | 46 (6%) | 29 (12%) | 17 (3%) | |
| How did you modify your treatment plan? | ||||
| Changed medication type | 204 (26%) | 18 (7%) | 186 (36%) | <0.0001 |
| Changed medication dose | 554 (72%) | 162 (63%) | 392 (76%) | <0.0001 |
| Changed medication timing | 675 (87%) | 203 (78%) | 472 (92%) | <0.0001 |
| Increased frequency of glucose monitoring | 328 (42%) | 72 (28%) | 256 (50%) | <0.0001 |
| Changed diet | 306 (40%) | 51 (20%) | 255 (50%) | <0.0001 |
| Changed physical activity | 247 (32%) | 34 (13%) | 213 (41%) | <0.0001 |
| During Ramadan, symptoms of… | ||||
| Mild hypoglycemia* | 571 (74%) | 174 (67%) | 397 (77%) | 0.0031 |
| Moderate hypoglycemia† | 244 (32%) | 49 (19%) | 195 (38%) | <0.0001 |
| Severe hypoglycemia‡ | 208 (27%) | 88 (34%) | 120 (23%) | 0.0017 |
| Mild hyperglycemia§ | 330 (44%) | 111 (44%) | 219 (43%) | 0.8050 |
| Severe hyperglycemia¶ | 7 (1%) | 4 (2%) | 3 (1%) | 0.2360 |
| Hospitalized during Ramadan | 0.0071 | |||
| No | 725 (99%) | 241 (98%) | 484 (99%) | |
| Yes | 7 (1%) | 6 (2%) | 1 (0%) | |
Data are expressed as mean±SD or N (per cent).
*Mild hypoglycemia: symptoms include hunger, rapid heart rate, anxiety, tremors, sweating, headache.
†Moderate hypoglycemia: symptoms of such severity that the participant required the assistance of another person.
‡Severe hypoglycemia: symptoms of such severity that the participant required professional medical assistance including emergency room or hospital care or placement of an intravenous injection of glucose.
§Mild hyperglycemia: symptoms including excessive thirst or excessive urination with or without nausea.
¶Severe hyperglycemia: symptoms of such severity that the participant required professional medical assistance or emergency room or hospital care, or treatment with insulin (if not taking previously).