Dietary habits and nutrients intake of diabetic adolescents during Ramadan fasting, Nagat Eltoum, Sidiga Washi and Abdulaziz Al-Twaim
Nagat Eltoum, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Saudi Arabia
Sidiga Washi, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates
Abdulaziz Al-Twaim, King Abdulaziz Medicalcity, Saudi Arabia
Purpose: the aim is to examine the effect of Ramadan fasting on the dietary habits and nutrients intake of Muslim adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Design/methodology/approach: 54 adolescents with type 1 diabetes (13–18 years old) permitted by their physicians to fast and had no medical complications participated in the study. They were evaluated at three points; before, during and after Ramadan. Validated questionnaires and three days diet diary were filled. Anthropo metrics were measured before and after Ramadan.
Findings: the participants fasted a mean of 21.767 days, had significant loss in weight (0.45 kg) and Body Mass Index (BMI) by the end of Ramadan, Energy and macro nutrients intake increased significantly during Ramadan.
Conclusion: changes in lifestyle, physical activity and dietary pattern are one of the characteristics of the month of Ramadan and it affects the diabetics as well as normal people. Adherence of diabetic adolescents to dietary and nutritional guidelines is vital but sometimes difficult to attain and maintain
Keywords: Type 1 diabetes, Ramadan, fasting, Adolescents
