Ramadan-focused nutrition therapy for people with diabetes: A narrative review

Mohd Yusof BN 1 , Yahya NF 2 , Hasbullah FY 2 , Wan Zukiman WZHH 3 , Azlan A 4 , Yi RLX 5 Show all authors , Marczewska A 6 , Hamdy O 7

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Research Centre of Excellent for Nutrition and Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: bnisak@upm.edu.my
  • 2 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Research Centre of Excellent for Nutrition and Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 5 Nestlé Health Science, Petaling Jaya 47810, Malaysia
  • 6 Nestlé Health Science, 1800 Vevey, Switzerland
  • 7 Joslin Diabetes Centre, Harvard Medical School, MA 02215, USA
Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2021 Feb;172:108530.
PMID: 33157118 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108530

Abstract

AIMS: This narrative review aimed to synthesize the evidence on the effects of Ramadan-focused nutrition therapy for people with diabetes.

METHODS: We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Science Direct databases for articles that included the component of nutrition for adult patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), published in English between 2010 and 2020.

RESULTS: Fourteen studies met the criteria. Eight of 14 studies had an intervention with a control arm. In comparison to the control group, all studies (n = 8) showed a reduction in hypoglycemic events. However, only half of these studies (n = 4) had shown at least one positive clinical outcome. Features of nutrition therapy that appeared to have favorable clinical outcomes include individualized caloric prescription; distributing carbohydrates equally between Suhoor, Iftar and snacks; providing meal plans; adjusting food intake to suit Ramadan; and incorporating diabetes-specific formula as part of Suhoor or snack.

CONCLUSIONS: The review provides evidence for the effectiveness of Ramadan-focused nutrition therapy among people with T2D and identifies key features of nutrition therapy that may provide favourable clinical outcomes. Additional data on dietary quality and adequacy during Ramadan fasting warrants further studies.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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