Fasting with Adrenal Insufficiency

Adrenal Insufficiency and Ramadan

It is important that Muslims who want to fast speak to their healthcare team well before Ramadan starts. Our patient leaflet gives tips on reducing the risks of becoming ill if you decide to fast, when it's advisable not to fast and offers alternatives to those who are considered too high risk for fasting.

The Qur'an requires Muslims to fast during the month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset. However, there are exceptions to this. One of them is that people who are ill or have medical conditions do not have to fast. This includes people with adrenal insufficiency, as omission or a delay in administration of steroids can result in life-threatening consequences from an adrenal crisis.

"Fasting with Adrenal Insufficiency" Patient Guidance Leaflet

This leaflet is endorsed by the Society of Endocrinology and is included in the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) Ramadan Compendium.

Download 'Fasting with Adrenal Insufficiency' Leaflet

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Read our blog article "Behind the Research: Fasting with adrenal insufficiency during Ramadan" with one of the co-authors of this research Dr Shazia Hussain, to learn more about this topic.

This leaflet summarises guidance that was an outcome of the below research:

Hussain S, Hussain S, Mohammed R, Meeran K, Ghouri N. Fasting with adrenal insufficiency: Practical guidance for healthcare professionals managing patients on steroids during Ramadan. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2020;93:87–96.

Thank you to our patient volunteers who reviewed and provided feedback on this leaflet, your feedback was invaluable to the production of this fantastic new resource.

If you know someone who can’t access this page or print off the leaflet, please Contact Us and we can post a physical copy of the leaflet to you. If you are a healthcare professional and would like copies for your hospital, please Contact Us so this can be arranged.

The production of this leaflet was created with and funded by the ADSHG, The Pituitary Foundation and CAH Support Group.

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Updated: April 2021.

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