Ramadan fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and is compulsory for all healthy Muslims from puberty onwards. Exemptions exist for people with serious medical conditions, including many with diabetes, but a large number will participate, often against medical advice. Ensuring the optimal care of these patients during Ramadan is crucial. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Diabetes and Ramadan (DAR) International Alliance have come together to deliver comprehensive guidelines on this subject. The key areas covered include epidemiology, the physiology of fasting, risk stratification, nutrition advice and medication adjustment. The IDF-DAR Practical Guidelines should enhance knowledge surrounding the issue of diabetes and Ramadan fasting, thereby empowering healthcare professionals to give the most up-to-date advice and the best possible support to their patients during Ramadan.
Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy in Diabetics/therapy
225 women with diabetes in pregnancy were managed by a team of obstetricians, physicians (endocrinologists) and paediatricians from the National University of Singapore. A protocol of management was formulated and followed. The incidence of 1.1% or 1 in 90 pregnancies was found, with significantly higher incidence in Indians and lower in Malays. There were 37 established diabetics and 188 diagnosed during pregnancy. Of these (188), 74 were gestational diabetics. All the women were treated with Insulin and Diet or Diet alone. 177 (79%) were treated with Insulin and Diet. Blood sugar profiles were done for monitoring diabetic control. 72.8% of the women were between para 0 and 1 and 85.2% between the ages of 20 and 34. 72.5% of the women delivered at 38 weeks gestation or later. 48.9% went into spontaneous labour, 32.4% were induced and 18.7% had elective caesarean section. 62.2% of the women had labour of less than 12 hours. The overall caesarean section rate was 41.7%. There were 3 stillbirths and 2 neonatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate was 2.2%. Thirteen babies had congenital malformations (5.8%). 77.8% of the babies had Apgar score of 7 or more at 5 minutes after delivery. 79.1% of the babies weighed between 2.5 kgm and 3.9 kgm. Pre-eclamptic toxaemia was the commonest complication in pregnancy followed by Urinary Tract Infection and Polyhydramnios. Postpartum complications in the mother were confined to 14 women (6.2%), and wound infection or breakdown was the commonest cause.
Matched MeSH terms: Pregnancy in Diabetics/therapy*