Khaberni - A study indicated that Ramadan fasting does not lead to worsening blood sugar fluctuations in adults with type 2 diabetes accompanied by stable liver fibrosis.
The study, conducted in Indonesia, at a single medical center in Jakarta from January to March 2025, followed 32 patients suffering from diabetes and liver fibrosis, and used the Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system to compare blood sugar control before Ramadan and during fasting.
During the study, which "Al Ain News" obtained a copy of, participants wore monitoring devices for 14 days before Ramadan and for an equivalent period during fasting, in order to assess changes in daily glucose variability. The main indicator of the study was the coefficient of variation, along with other indicators including time in the normal sugar range, time above the range, and time below the range.
The results published in "Gastroenterology & Endoscopy" showed that the coefficient of variation remained stable, almost unchanged before and during Ramadan, with no statistically significant differences, indicating that fasting did not lead to additional disruption in blood sugar control.
The researchers also noted a slight and statistically insignificant improvement in the time patients spent within the normal glucose range, with a limited increase in high periods after meals, especially at Iftar and Suhoor.
Conversely, the rate of blood sugar drops remained very low at all times, reflecting a good level of safety for the patients under observation.
The study noted that patients classified within the higher risk category showed greater increases in sugar highs compared to those with low or medium risk.
According to the researchers, the results support the possibility of safely fasting during Ramadan for patients with type 2 diabetes who have stable liver fibrosis, provided careful case selection and medical follow-up. Conversely, they emphasized that patients with high risk or unstable liver fibrosis should be advised not to fast, to avoid potential health complications.
The study emphasized the importance of using continuous glucose monitoring technologies to guide medical decisions related to fasting during Ramadan, especially for patients with complex chronic conditions such as diabetes and liver fibrosis.
