Young people with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy could fast safely during COVID–19 pandemic Ramadan: A telemonitoring experience in Bangladesh

17, November 2020 | Bangladesh

Authors:

Abstract

Our aim was to report our telemedicine experience with type 1 diabetes patients on insulin pumps who fasted during Ramadan 2020 at COVID 19 pandemic time. The routine diabetes outpatient care in our CDiC Paediatric Diabetes Center in BIRDEM hospital was closed as there was lock down since March 26 in Bangladesh. The diabetes team in our center started tele medicine care for routine follow up of patients. Nine patients contacted our diabetes team over phone who wished to fast this Ramadan. Mean age was 19.3  5.0 years, 5 (55.6%) were female. Most of the patients fasted more than 20 days. Hyperglycaemia and mild hypoglycemia were common complications during fasting. There was no episode of severe hypoglycaemia or DKA and none of them required admission.During COVID-19 crisis in Bangladesh, patients with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump, could fast safely in Ramadan with support of telemedicine service by diabetes team.