Can Type 1 Diabetes Patients Safely Fast during Ramadan

The issue whether people with Type 1 Diabetes can safely fast during Ramadan has been the subject of quite a few debates over the years. Had it been a simple yes or no issue, there would have been no reason to debate. However, like a lot of other topics in medical management, this particular subject overlaps both the science and the art of medicine. Religious beliefs, as we all know, evoke a strong response from the followers of any particular religion. Fasting during Ramadan is a key pillar of Islam and is not something is taken lightly by Muslims. Although the Holy Quran clearly specifies the exemptions from fasting such as an illness (1), most Muslims still have astrong desire to fast, if at all possible. In reality, quite a few individuals with type 1 diabetes do fast as we do see in our clinical practice (2).