Staying Healthy During Ramadan 2025
Non-urgent advice: We care about you staying healthy during Ramadan
The practice of fasting is an important part of Ramadan. This involves the complete abstinence from food, drink and smoking between dawn and sunset over the month. It’s also a time for self-reflection and evaluation.
Supporting you to have a healthy Ramadan
Do you take prescribed medicines?
Remember to continue to take prescribed medicines during Ramadan, but do check with your GP if the doses need to be adjusted or the times you take them changed.
Do you have diabetes?
If you have diabetes and want to fast you should speak to your GP or diabetes nurse about the safest way to do this. There is an exemption for people with diabetes, especially if for those on insulin or who have any medical complications.
Attending medical appointments
If you have a medical appointment booked during Ramadan, it is very important that you attend. If you need to adjust the time of your appointment, please contact the relevant healthcare organisation to do so.
It’s important to remember that there are several exemptions allowed to fasting. Those with increased risk of contracting Covid-19 should consider alternative options. These include those who are unwell due to conditions including diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, or those who are on medication, pregnant or elderly.
What to do if you become unwell while fasting
The British Islamic Medical Association advises that if you become unwell during Ramadan, you should stop fasting and seek medical advice. You can do this by visiting 111.nhs.uk or your GP practice’s website or if you don’t have access to the internet, by calling 111 or your practice directly.
Ramadan Health Factsheet 2025
Diabetes during Ramadan
Risks of Fasting
- The type of diabetes you are living with.
- If you are currently keeping your average blood sugar level (HbA1c) in a healthy range for you.
- The type of medication you use to manage your diabetes.
- If you take medications that put you at risk of low blood sugar (also called hypoglycaemia), such as sulphonylureas and insulin.
- If you’re living with diabetes complications such as poor vision, nerve damage, heart or kidney disease. There is a high risk that fasting could make these health conditions worse.
For example, people living with type 2 diabetes who manage with diet and lifestyle only, or who take one diabetes medication that does not increase their risk of hypoglycaemia will have a lower risk during the fast if they are already keeping their HbA1c in a healthy range.
Making a plan to fast safely
When discussing the risk of fasting with your healthcare team it is important to agree a plan so you can fast safely.
This may include:
- Increasing blood sugar monitoring during this time and making sure you have enough supplies to do this. Checking your blood sugar levels does not break the fast, but you must break the fast if your blood sugars are too high or too low.
- What to do if your blood sugar is too low or too high, or if you become unwell. Learn more about your sick day rules.
- Adjustments to your diabetes tablets, you may need a different type, or dose and need to know the best time to take them.
- Adjustments to your insulin. You won’t need as much insulin before the start of the fast. Also, the type of insulin may need changing from your usual type. Remember, pre-mixed insulin is not recommended during fasting.
Testing blood sugars during the fast
Risk of low blood sugar
If you take certain tablets or insulin, fasting carries the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).
This means it’s important for you to know the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar and to test your blood sugars more often during the fast, either with a blood sugar monitor or a continuous glucose monitor.
If your blood sugars drop below 4 mmol/l you must break your fast and treat the hypo with some sugary food or fluid and follow this with something starchy as otherwise you will harm your body and may need medical attention. It’s a good idea to carry hypo treatments with you and a bottle of water during the fasting period.
Risk of high blood sugar
You may develop high blood sugar levels during a fast if you miss your usual prescribed medication, if you have larger portions of starchy or sugary foods or if you are less physically active than normal. High blood sugars can increase your risk of dehydration which can make you feel dizzy and tired.
Talk to your healthcare team about your blood sugar levels
Before choosing to fast, ask your healthcare team what a high blood sugar level is for you. If you go above that level during fasting, you must break the fast by drinking water and seek medical advice. Without medical advice this could lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – a serious condition requiring hospital treatment.
If you’re not able to get hold of your GP or diabetes team, it would be advisable not to fast, especially if you’re not sure of what to do with your diabetes medications. If you need urgent medical help, you can use the NHS 111 online service.
Further advice and guidance
Further advice and guidance
For healthcare professionals, there is guidance on the management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes during Ramadan from the South Asian Health Foundation.
Find Ramadan resources for healthcare professionals, including our joint webinar with BIMA which gives evidence-based top tips on risk assessment for fasting; medication adaptations; monitoring considerations and supported, shared decision-making.
Call the Diabetes UK Helpline on 0345 123 2399. If you wish to speak in another language, this can easily be arranged.
The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) brings together Muslim healthcare professionals in the UK as one.
The Muslim Council of Britain has the latest guidelines and advice for Muslims fasting during the month of Ramadan to help them make the most of the blessed month. This information is also useful for the friends, neighbours and colleagues of Muslims.