The Efficacy and Safety of Glimepiride in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes in Muslim Patients During Ramadan

• FBG, fasting blood glucose

There is widespread agreement that the incidence of diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions. Many of the countries in which diabetes has become a major health problem have sizeable Muslim populations, where the daylight, month-long, annual fast of Ramadan poses a potential problem for good glycemic control (1–3). Although there are clear religious exemptions from fasting for patients with serious diseases, many Muslim diabetic patients choose to participate (4). There is little information on the safety and efficacy of antidiabetic drugs during Ramadan fasting.

Glimepiride is a once-daily oral antidiabetic drug indicated for type 2 diabetes when diet, physical activity, and weight reduction alone do not adequately control the disease (5–7) and is available in many countries with a sizeable Muslim population. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of the changes in nutritional habits (eating and drinking starting at sunset instead of breakfast) and drug administration schedule during Ramadan on the control of type 2 diabetes in subjects in whom the disease is otherwise well controlled by glimepiride.