Fasting with Adrenal Insufficiency

Adrenal Insufficiency and Ramadan

Our patient leaflet gives tips on reducing the risks of becoming unwell if you decide to fast, when it's advisable not to fast. It offers alternatives to those who are considered too high-risk for fasting.

"Fasting with Adrenal Insufficiency" Patient Guidance Leaflet

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 a medical condition are exempt from fasting. This includes people with adrenal insufficiency, as omission or a delay in the administration of steroids can result in life-threatening consequences from an adrenal crisis.

Muslims who wish to fast must consult their healthcare team well in advance of Ramadan.

This patient information leaflet has been authored by Dr Shazia Hussein, in collaboration with, and with funding from the ADSHG, The Pituitary Foundation and Living with CAH. It is endorsed by the Society of Endocrinology and is included in the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) Ramadan Compendium.

The trifold leaflet is available in a digital version that can be downloaded for free, or a printed copy can be ordered from our online shop

Download a digital version

Purchase a printed copy from our online shop

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 are a healthcare professional and would like copies for your hospital, please Contact Us so this can be arranged.

Connect on social media!

Join Us

Updated: April 2021.

Latest

Manchester Member Get-Together: 26 Sept 2026

Join our second Member Get-Together in 2026, to be held in Manchester on Saturday 26 September. Find out more and how to get your tickets!
Professor John Wass Research Grant Winner 2026

We are proud to award a £10,000 grant to support Dr Punith Kempegowda and Dr Amanda Ling from the University of Birmingham with their research into the management of adrenal crises in UK hospitals. The data collected will help clarify best practice and drive improvement in adrenal crisis care.
ADSHG AGM - Saturday 4 July 2026

Sign up to attend the 2026 AGM for the Addison's Disease Self-Help Group. Enjoy a presentation from the John Wass Research Grant Award winners for 2026 about their research study around adrenal crisis management in hospitals.
Emily’s Story: Sharing Life with Addison’s Online

Emily is a content creator who shares her journey with Addison’s online, alongside her countryside living in the Lake District. For her advocacy is more than awareness, it’s about making our “invisible” health condition seen and understood.

Discontinuation of Liquid Hydrocortisone: Letter Template to contact your MP

Let your MP know how you feel about the discontinuation of the manufacture of liquid hydrocortisone in the UK. A template letter for you to fill out and post to your MP (or equivalent in the devolved nations), or to copy and paste into an email.
Summary Care Record Letter for GPs

A letter for you to fill out and send/ give to your GP to ensure your Summary Care Record is updated with your condition and steroid dependent status.
Adrenal Insufficiency Action Plan and 3-month Prescription Request Letter

Action Plan: A clear and easy to understand leaflet with all the key points about how to optimally manage your adrenal insufficiency, including Addison's disease. For you to keep with you at all times, and to share with others that need help to better understand your condition
Notes for Nurses: managing Addison's & adrenal insufficiency
Steroid Medication and Emergency Injection Refusal Letters

Working with the ADSHG Clinical Advisory Panel we have created these letters to support and provide you with practical resources when advocating for yourself in a healthcare setting.
ADSHG Posters

Help raise awareness of Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency by sharing our posters.
Surgical Guidelines

The ADSHG surgical guidelines are intended for the information of your medical team or your dentist and have been developed by our Clinical Advisory Panel.
What are Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency?

An introduction to Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency, aimed at raising awareness in the general public.
Steroid Emergency Cards

People who take steroid medications every day of their life will need to carry a steroid card which identifies to healthcare professionals that their medication cannot be stopped. Find out more about the cards available.
Diagnosis Infographics. "Think Addison's disease - save a life"

Download the CoMICs diagnosis of Addison's disease infographics and accompanying article "Think Addison's disease - save a life", as featured in the Guardian newspaper.

Sick Day Rules

Minor ailments can affect anyone with a steroid-dependent adrenal condition very differently. Things like vomiting, diarrhoea, colds and flu could cause an adrenal crisis. It’s important that you spot the early symptoms of a bug or cold and adjust your steroid replacement medication.
Adrenal Crisis - Emergency Help

Adrenal crisis is a time-critical, life-threatening emergency and must be treated immediately. Read the guidance on treating a steroid-dependent patient in adrenal crisis.
The Emergency Injection for the treatment of Adrenal Crisis

Understanding what an Emergency Injection kit is, how to inject and how important it is to use the injection during an Adrenal Crisis.
What are Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency?

Find out more about Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency and and how they are treated.
Why Salt?

Why do people with Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency crave salty, acidic and sour foods at diagnosis, and then salt remains our “pick me up” when diagnosed? Professor Simon Pearce explains the connection between aldosterone, fludrocortisone and why you should always listen to your salt cravings.
Addison's & Adrenal Insufficiency: Advice for Dentists

Read our guidance for major and minor dental procedures. It is important to recognise the physical stress of any invasive dental procedure and to ensure that adequate glucocorticoid cover is provided for steroid-dependent patients.
Surgical Guidelines

The ADSHG surgical guidelines are intended for the information of your medical team or your dentist and have been developed by our Clinical Advisory Panel.
Updated NHS Steroid Card Released

Following the early release of the new NHS Steroid Emergency Card back in March to keep patients with Addison's or adrenal insufficiency safe during the COVID-19 crisis, the NHS steroid card has been updated and physical copies will be available to order from Tuesday 18th August 2020 for hospital teams!
Coping with psychological stress

We explain why more hydrocortisone may be required to cope with emotional stress and outline some techniques to reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
Coronavirus Vaccines and Adrenal Insufficiency

Everyone with a steroid-dependent adrenal condition should get the coronavirus vaccine and boosters to reduce their risk of getting coronavirus. This is because people who are steroid-dependent are at increased risk of needing hospital care if they get coronavirus, due to the risk of adrenal crisis.

Research Grants

One important strand of our work as a charity is our 'Advance' strand: funding, promoting and contributing to the development of new innovations and research to improve treatments and quality of life for members of the adrenal insufficiency community. Here we share the projects we are currently supporting thanks to the generosity of our donors, members and fundraisers. Read more