MyWay Digital Health partnered with Diabetes and Ramadan International Alliance (DaR) to offer two courses on managing diabetes during Ramadan; one for healthcare professionals and one for people living with diabetes, available in English, Arabic and Malay. Although the courses are now closed, we hope they made a positive difference for those who participated.
Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful Eid.
Debbie is the CEO and Clinical Lead for MyWay Digital Health, and a Consultant Diabetologist working in NHS Lothian. Debbie also works at the University of Edinburgh as a Clinical Reader in Medical Informatics and Diabetes Care & Education.
She is passionate about improving the lives of people with diabetes through education and data driven care.
Dr.Athari Alsulami is a Diabetes and Family Medicine Consultant. She is also an Assistant Professor at Fakeeh College for Medical Specialties.
Dr Abdul Rahman is an NHS GP in Nottingham (MRCGP, 2019). She is a member of the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) and British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM) and currently undergoing the BSLM Core Accreditation in Lifestyle Medicine. She has an MSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine (Exeter, 2010) focusing on physical activity.
Salman is a general practitioner in and an honorary academic at Imperial College London. He is the President of the British Islamic
Medical Association (BIMA), an award-winning voluntary non-profit association of Muslim health professionals that have been addressing health inequalities for over a decade.
He has an interest in faith in healthcare and published several peer-reviewed papers on Ramadan clinical guidelines, as well as on cancer screening and organ donation in Muslim communities. He is the co-editor of the BIMA Ramadan Compendium, which provides an evidence-based patient-centred decision making tool to enable a safer Ramadan for a variety of health conditions. He completed an NIHR Fellowship at the University of Oxford, where he also obtained a scholarship for an MSc in Evidence Based Healthcare.
He has a variety of educational roles as a postgraduate GP Training Programme Director for Health Education England, an examiner for the GMC PLAB exam and the final year MBBS at St Georges London, and a Faculty Education Lead for Royal College of GPs.
Nazim graduated from Edinburgh University, and he was appointed as a consultant in 2015 at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and is also an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Glasgow. During his specialist training, he completed his MD thesis titled ‘The cardiometabolic phenotype of UK South Asian Men’ at Glasgow University.
Nazim has published around 50 papers and he has also studied Sacred Islamic knowledge with a contemporary focus. His research and teaching interests relate to his clinical and academic expertise, as well as ethnicity and faith (particularly fasting in Ramadan). He has published novel papers in high impact journals and spoken nationally in these areas. He is one of the main authors of the recently published ‘Guide to organ donation and Muslim beliefs’ on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Finally, he is the joint senior editor of the British Islamic Medical Association Ramadan compendium – comprehensive informative guidance on the management of patients during Ramadan for HCPs covering a range of specialties.
Dr Harnovdeep Singh Bharaj is a Consultant Physician in General Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and was formerly a clinical lecturer at the University of Manchester. Dr Bharaj pioneered the role of lay educator and diabetes support nurses for South Asians and developed a twilight multidisciplinary clinic for young people with diabetes and a nurse-led diabetes clinic; both initiatives improved access and reduced inequalities in health care delivery.
Dr Bharaj is a Member of the Greater Manchester Structured Patient Education Steering Group; a Member of the Diabetes UK Community Education Insight Advisory Group, and Chair of the North West Youth Diabetes Steering Group.
Dr Bharaj was awarded an MBE in January 2021 in recognition of his services to people with diabetes in the South Asian community
Scott is a medical doctor and clinical academic practicing in Edinburgh, Scotland. Scott currently works as a Clinical Fellow in Digital Health where he helps develop and evaluate online education to improve care for people with diabetes.
Alison Campbell is the Learning Resource Administrator for MyWay Digital Health and studied Cell Biology at University. Alison supports the development of our eLearning courses and educational resources on our public access websites.
Kirsten is the Clinical Education Lead for MyWay Digital Health and studied Food, Nutrition & Health at University. Kirsten is passionate about helping people living with diabetes as her sister was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 11.
In general, fasting will carry more risks if you:
If you are unsure whether it is safe to fast during Ramadan, talk to your doctor who can help you to understand your risk.
Sulphonylureas (e.g. gliclazide, glibenclamide, glimepiride, Dimicron MR): If you take sulphonylurea tablets or prandial glucose regulators (repaglinide, metaglinide, nateglinide), be aware that these can cause low glucose (hypoglycaemia) when you are fasting, which could make you feel ill. It is likely that your Suhoor dose may be reduced but the same dose can be taken at Iftar. The older drugs e.g glibenclamide should be avoided. Do talk to your doctor for specific treatment adjustment advice for you.
Acarbose: If you take acarbose and you feel unwell while you are fasting, you can consider reducing the dose or changing the timing of when you take them. If you continue to take them, the largest dose should be taken at Iftar, so that they work when you are eating.
Metformin tablets, on their own will not cause low glucose (hypoglycaemia). But if you feel unwell while you are fasting, you can consider reducing the dose or changing the timing of when you take them. The largest dose should be taken at Iftar, so that they work when you are eating.
Prof. Wasim Hanif is a Professor of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Consultant Physician, & Head of Service in diabetes at University Hospital Birmingham. He is a Hon. Professor of Medicine at University of Warwick. He is the Board Member of Centre for Diabetes Endocrine & Metabolism, University of Birmingham. He is a visiting Professor at Birmingham City University and Medical Director of Advanced Diabetes Course. He is on the Board of Governors as a Trustee of Diabetes UK and Non-executive Director of BMJ on its Board.
He is an eminent authority on Diabetes, Obesity, and Ethnic health. He works with several national bodies, and professional groups in the UK. He has been involved with major research projects in diabetes and has published widely. He was selected for Kings Fund Leadership Program. His research interest includes diabetic kidney disease, diabetes prevention, cardiovascular disease in diabetes, diabetes in Ramadan, obesity, ethnicity and tackling health inequalities. He is well known authority on real world evidence working on big data with a dedicated bioinformatics team. He is involved as a chief and principal investigator in several international multi-centre trials and was instrumental in setting up UKADS (United Kingdom Asian Diabetes Study).
Prof. Hanif has been involved at a parliamentary level to advise the government on issues relating to Diabetes and ethnic health. He is the Chair of the Diabetes Working Group and Trustee of the world-recognised South Asian Health Foundation (SAHF).
He is a member European policy forum on diabetes advising EU. His involvement in NICE has been extensive, sitting on advisory NICE Health Technology Appraisal Committee between 2009 and 2015. He is on the Expert Advisory Committee of Commission of Human Medicine, advising MHRA on new Medicinal agents.
He is involved in several international projects, IDF WHO Global Policy Forum on Diabetes, Strategy for Commonwealth to guide ministers at UN summit, Chair International advisory board for ORNATE project India of MRC, member of UK Foreign & commonwealth office Scientific trade delegation among others. He is recipient of several national and international awards including the prestigious South Asian Health Foundation UK Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr Hassanein is a senior consultant in Endocrinology and Diabetes at Dubai Hospital, Dubai, UAE since 2014. He holds Academic posts as H Professor of Medicine, Gulf Medical University, UAE, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Mohamed Bin-Rashid University, UAE, as well as Associate Director for Postgraduate Diabetes Education, Cardiff University, UK since 2007. He was appointed to the post of Consultant in the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes at BCUHB, UK, in 2002. Dr Hassanein graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria, Egypt.
His main research interest is in the field of diabetes and Ramadan. He co-authored recommendations papers on this subject for the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in 2005 and 2010, and for the British Medical Journal in 2010, Diabetes Canada in 2017 as well as the IDF-DAR practical guidelines, 2016 and 2021. Dr Hassanein has participated as the first author and/or a co-author in numerous studies. He has published over 85 papers. He’s also the associate editor of DRCP as well as Dubai Diabetes and Endocrinology Journal.
Tracey Flax is a learning technologist with MyWay Digital Health. Her work focuses on developing structured education and resources for people with diabetes. She has a keen interest in the intersection of health, tech and social equity.
Dr Nader Lessan is a Consultant Endocrinologist at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and an Honorary Senior Lecturer, Imperial College London. He had his undergraduate medical training at Newcastle University, and completed his clinical training in Diabetes, Endocrinology and General Medicine in the UK.
He is the Founder & Director for the Imperial Diabetes Educator Training (IDET) programme.
Dr. Lee-Ling Lim is Consultant Endocrinologist and Head of the Diabetes Care Unit, University of Malay Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is a member of the Scientific Work Groups of The Lancet Commission on Diabetes and the ADA/EASD Precision Medicine in Diabetes Initiative, who provide authoritative resources in tackling the global diabetes epidemic.
Dr. Lim has received several awards including the AOCO Rising Star Award, the USA Endocrine Society Outstanding Abstract Award, and the EFSD Albert Renold Fellowship. She has a keen interest in medical education and actively promotes health awareness by delivering medical lectures and public health talks at national and international levels.
Nisak is an Associate Professor and currently holds a position as a Deputy Dean Academic (Health Sciences) and Students’ Affairs, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). She is also a practising dietitian in Diabetes Nutrition and Metabolic Obesity in HPUPM, a teaching hospital of UPM.
She is committed to improving metabolic control and quality of life in people with diabetes through proper medical nutrition therapy.
Salma is a Consultant Dietitian working in the field of community health and wellbeing for over 20 years. Salma is interested in delivering diabetes care through digital platforms and is currently supporting the Northwest London Diabetes Transformation programme.
She is also the co-author of the Carbs and Cals World Food Book. The first visual carbohydrate awareness resource for the BAME communities.
Debbie is the CEO and Clinical Lead for MyWay Digital Health, and a Consultant Diabetologist working in NHS Lothian. Debbie also works at the University of Edinburgh as a Clinical Reader in Medical Informatics and Diabetes Care & Education.
She is passionate about improving the lives of people with diabetes through education and data driven care.
Intermediate and long-acting insulins are often used on their own or in combination with quick-acting insulins. The dose of long-acting insulin may need to be reduced if you are fasting.
Fatima Ismail, MS-Pediatric Diabetes Dietitian.
Fatima has completed her master’s degree in Diabetes Care and Management at Dundee University (UK) and graduated from Qatar University for her Nutrition undergraduate studies.
Fatima has more than 10 years’ experience in diabetes management, she is skilled in diabetes education and clinical research.
Her mission is to continually support people with diabetes to improve their diabetes by providing evidence-based dietary care.
Nurse Consultant North West London
Dr Mohammed Iqbal is a Consultant endocrinologist and Bariatric physician in ICLDC Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. Special interest in T2DM management and management of Obesity and medical education. I am also an adjunct Senior Clinical lecturer in Endocrinology in Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi.
Ms Sahar Murad, Senior DAFNE educator, DAFNE Certified. Experienced in pumps, technology in type 1 and follow up of all type 1 patients fasting in Ramadan.
Ms Etab Tagadom is a Senior DAFNE Educator, DAFNE certified. Has more than 15 years experience in type 1, type 2 and research. Was instrumental in DAFNE Ramadan workshop, and DAFNE Ramadan research and has presented widely nationally and regionally.
Ms Jumana Al Kandari, Head of DAFNE Unit, Senior clinical dietician with expertise in Type 1. Has been awarded her master degree from UCL. Has extensive experience in the past 10 years in Ramadan fasting and Type 1 and established specific DAFNE Ramadan workshop.
Dr Ebaa Al Ozairi
BMSc(hons), MBChB, MRCP(UK), CCT(UK), FACN
American Board Of Physician Nutrition Specialist
Chief Medical Officer-‐ Dasman Diabetes Institute Consultant Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition
Former Fulbright Scholar-Harvard Medical School
Dr Ebaa Al Ozairi is the Chief Medical Officer at Dasman Diabetes Institute, a consultant Diabetes, Endocrine and Nutrition. Dr Al Ozairi has completed her intercalated BMSc (hons) in molecular pathology at Dundee University (UK) and graduated from Aberdeen University (UK) for her medical undergraduate studies. Ebaa then joined Newcastle University (UK) for her specialist training in Diabetes and Endocrinology. During her postgraduate studies in UK, Dr Al Ozairi was awarded The Fulbright fellowship to Joslin Diabetes Institute, affiliates of Harvard medical school, Boston, USA.
Her research interest includes Nutrition, Obesity, Diabetes, Education, Technology and Metabolic Surgery.
Dr Ebaa Al Ozairi has completed her fellowship in obesity and holds the American Board for Physician Nutrition Specialist and is a fellow at the American College of Nutrition. She also directs DAFNE type 1 diabetes education program and currently granted the training center for the Middle East. Dr Al Ozairi has completed her Rabkin Fellowship in medical Education at Harvard Medical school. She is a reviewer for Lancet Endocrinology, European Journal for Endocrinology, Diabetic Medicine, Obesity, Surgery and Clinical Endocrinology.
Dr. Al Ozairi has 4 chapters in International books and an author in Medscape, bariatric times and Endodiabology and has more than 55 peer reviewed publications, in addition to more than 120 oral presentations in regional and international conferences. Dr Alozairi has won his highness the Amir Gold medal electronic award and the Arab regional award for e-‐technology for co-‐ founding the most comprehensive Arabic Diabetes Website. She was the 1st woman to become the president of American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist – Gulf Chapter.
Dr. Nagi Mohammed (Diabetologist) has acquired over 18 years of experience treating diabetes and endocrine conditions in a number of leading hospitals and medical centres in the UK and the Gulf region. He joined Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (UAE) since 2012
He has a special interest and extensive experience in Type 1 diabetes, insulin pump therapy and other diabetes technology.
In 2015, he became the founder and clinical lead of the insulin pump clinic for adults at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Al Ain.
A passion for medical education has seen Dr. Nagi mentoring fellows in the Diabetes and Endocrinology fellowship program at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre since 2015, while also teaching at ICLDC’s Diabetes Educator course.
Aside from clinical work and teaching, Dr. Nagi has been actively engaged in research. Amongst other things, his research interests include Type 1 diabetes , Bariatric surgery and Diabetes in Ramadan .
Dr Luqman is an endocrinologist whose main area of work is improving diabetes care delivery, including during Ramadan and during the COVID19 pandemic, for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. He is currently involved in establishing the Diabetes Care Unit in Regency Specialist Hospital in Johor Bahru.
• Sweating
• Trembling and Shaking
• Hunger
• Going pale
• Heart palpitations
• Irritability
• Feeling dizzy
Pre-mixed insulins are not usually recommended during periods of fasting. If you do continue to use these insulins, it is likely that you will have to adjust the timing and doses so that you are always taking your insulin in conjunction with eating.
You will need to discuss any changes to your insulin regime with your diabetes care team, so be sure to contact them for advice well in advance of the next Ramadan.
Quick-acting insulins (such as novorapid, humalog, f-iasp) are usually taken at the time of eating and the dose can be adjusted according to the food intake or to correct a high glucose level. These provide a more flexible insulin regime, making it easier to alter the doses and change the timings of your injections. Your diabetes care team may advise you to change to quick-acting insulin so that you inject only when you are eating. These are usually taken in combination with long-acting insulin.
For more information on insulin adjustment at mealtimes: Carbohydrate Counting
