For people with diabetes taking certain tablets and/or insulin to manage their condition, the greatest danger is that of hypoglycaemia.
It is also possible that people could develop high blood glucose levels during a fast if they omit their medication, or if they are less physically active than normal.
If you are intending to fast you should attend your diabetes clinic for an assessment of your current level of diabetes control. Your healthcare team should discuss with you any difficulties experienced in previous fasts and how you coped with them. They can advise on any adjustment of medication that may be required to enable you to fast safely.
To reduce the possibility of becoming hypoglycaemic (hypo) you should rest as much as possible during the fast. If you are fasting and feel hypoglycaemic you must take some sugary fluids and follow it with starchy food. This breaking of the fast is permitted since religious laws states a person should not put their health at risk and becoming hypoglycaemic could do just that.
There is also the danger of the blood glucose level becoming too high when normal levels of medication are not taken. This can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a condition requiring hospital admission. The symptoms of DKA include feeling very thirsty and passing a lot of urine. If someone is fasting and does not take in fluids to reduce their thirst, this will accelerate dehydration and they will require urgent admission to hospital.