KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF IRAQI DIABETIC PATIENTS WHO FAST DURING RAMADAN

Although fasting during Ramadan can negatively affect on glycemic control for diabetic patients, but many of them insist on fasting during Ramadan; so this study aimed to find out the percentage of diabetic patients who fast during Ramadan and their knowledge and preparations for adjusting glycemic control during the fasting month. A cross sectional - pilot study was done for 15 adult diabetic patients in community pharmacies of Baghdad – Iraq during Ramadan 2015. Each patient fill in a questionnaire format which consisted from two main parts: the 1st one involves general questions to all participated patients about themselves, their disease and fasting status, while the second part was specified only for patients who fast during Ramadan and involve questions about monitoring and treatment of diabetes. More than 46% of diabetic patients fast during Ramadan. There was no significant difference between fasting and non fasting diabetic patients, in their number, age, gender, type of DM, and the presence of other comorbid diseases, however the only significant difference was in the duration of DM, at which non fasted patients usually have long history with DM. It was found that participated diabetic patients were usually adherent to their treatment and using the same dose of their medications during Ramadan, however more than 28% of these patients were usually trying to change their dosing regimen to less frequent times during the fasting month of Ramadan. Additionally 85.7% of diabetic patients think that fasting have the ability to improve glycemic control, while 60% of patients didn't seek medical consultation during their preparation to fast during Ramadan. Additionally more than 57% of fasting diabetic patients never tried to measure their blood glucose level during Ramadan. Iraqi diabetic patients who fasted during Ramadan had very little knowledge about the relationship between fasting and glycemic control, besides that most of their attitudes and practices toward their treatment and disease monitoring were wrong and not compatible with the international guidelines.