| Name of research project |
| A Safer Ramadan |
| What is the project? |
| A Safer Ramadan is a package of education resources, including a structured education course developed for members of the Muslim community who have type 2 diabetes, but wish to observe the religious festival, and also healthcare professionals.The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rising in this population and is associated with many health risks, such as severe hypoglycaemia, dehydration and thrombosis – all of which could ultimately lead to hospitalisation.As a result, fasting has previously been uniformly discouraged by the medical profession but it is an important part of the Muslim faith.A Safer Ramadan aims to overcome these barriers between healthcare professionals, people with diabetes and religion by providing education and awareness of how people with type 2 diabetes can safely fast during Ramadan with help from their healthcare provider.The programme was created to increase awareness and understanding among healthcare professionals, while also empowering members of the Muslim community to better manage their type 2 diabetes during the religious festival and encourage open conversations about the risks and alternatives to fasting.The programme is made up of three parts:one for the person with diabetesone for the healthcare professionalone to be delivered to the Muslim community by people from within the community. |
| What is the aim? |
| The aim of A Safer Ramadan is to increase awareness of how to fast safely among those who wish to observe the fasting period and also have type 2 diabetes.Structured self-management education for diabetes has been shown to improve quality of life and healthcare during the fasting period.Fasting is associated with a seven-fold increased risk of severe hypoglycaemia and hospitalisation during Ramadan, which represents a medical challenge for those with diabetes and their healthcare providers. |
| Who is involved? |
| Centre for Ethnic Health Research ARC East Midlands Leicester City CCG Nene CCG University of Leicester East Midlands Academic Health Science Network DESMON DEDEN |
| What are the benefits? |
| Structured education is recognised as a safe and effective method for supporting people with diabetes.Delivering the programme to the Muslim community by people from within the community has helped to create a primary care referral pathway for healthcare professionals, expand community awareness and promote self-management to reduce the risks of hypoglycaemia and hospitalisation.Upskilling and educating healthcare professionals on this subject has led to an increase in open conversations with the person who has diabetes and their healthcare team, which has ultimately led to safer fasting during Ramadan. |
| Contact |
| Bernie Stribling bernie.stribling@uhl-tr.nhs.uk |
| Useful links |
| Safer Ramadan eLearning module A Safer Ramadan Toolkit |