Skip to main content

JDRF has now rebranded to Breakthrough T1D.
Our name has changed, our mission has not.

Shared experience

Managing blood glucose levels during Ramadan

Hamza shares his experiences of fasting when you have type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetic Hamza outside at an event wearing a tuxedo jacket and bow tie

Hamza Yousaf, a 24-year-old Paralegal from Leeds, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of five, talks about how he manages the condition during Ramadan.

Managing type 1 diabetes during Ramadan

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims from all corners of the earth fast between sunrise and sunset.

The daily routine for a Muslim during Ramadan consists of waking up before sunrise and eating, then consuming no food or water all day until eating again after sunset.

This year Ramadan is taking place in April and May, and as a result of the longer days the time period for the fasting can be more than a staggering 17 hours a day. I currently work between 9am and 5pm.

For someone with type 1 diabetes who is a Muslim, this is where the control of my diabetes really gets tested.

So, how do I manage my type 1 diabetes during Ramadan? Well, at sunrise, when the fast closes, I try to eat a slow-releasing carbohydrate in order to give my blood glucose levels the best chance of remaining stable throughout the day.

However, as you will probably already know, blood glucose levels when you have type 1 diabetes can be unpredictable at times, so this does not always work.

So, whenever I have a hypo in Ramadan (and I have had a few) I break my fast and try to keep one the next day, with no hard feelings as scholars have argued that it is permissible to break your fast in these circumstances.

I also like to keep my blood glucose levels slightly on the high side in Ramadan and then around five hours before the fast opens I take a correction dose of insulin to ensure my blood glucose levels are stable.

 

More shared experiences

Read more
Megan Neville standing in her bright and colourful university workspace. The wall behind her is covered in bright and colourful art work. Megan poses playfully smiles and looks to the side with her hands under her face.
Shared experience
7 April 2025

Type 1 diabetes, tech and creativity

Megan Neville was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at three years old. Now a graduate of the Royal School of Needlework, Megan shares her experiences of growing up with type 1 and how it became the topic of her sculptural handbag embroidery project: Ordinary Oddness.

Read more
A young woman with type 1 diabetes sitting on a sofa looking at the camera
Shared experience
25 February 2025

"Five things I wish I knew when I was first diagnosed"

Eden Valk was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while she was still in school, navigating classes, friendships and everyday life. Here, she shares five of the most important lessons she’s learned along the way.

Read more
Manisha Vadgama standing beside a wall and smiling
Shared experience
24 February 2025

Pregnant with type 1 diabetes: My journey and top tips

Manisha Vadgama shares what she has learned on her own pregnancy journey so far, from getting the tech right to making sure she has the right people around her.

Read more
A photo of Dr. Paidamoyo Katsande, a type 1 diabetes researcher.
Shared story
5 February 2025

Beyond the lab: A researcher’s journey to tackling type 1 diabetes

Researcher, Dr Paidamoyo Katsande, shares why she's so passionate about curing type 1 diabetes and how Breakthrough T1D supporters are bringing us closer to a cure.

Connect with us on social