Use of flash glucose monitoring system in assessing safety of the SGLT2 inhibitors during Ramadan fasting in high risk insulin treated patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

BackgroundThe risks of hypoglycemia, dehydration and kidney injury may theoretically be aggravated by people with type 2 diabetes treated with Insulin and SGLT2 inhibitors during Ramadan. Data on safety and efficacy of SGLT2-I in people with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin is scanty. We aimed to assess the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors during Ramadan in high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin, on hypoglycemia, glycemic control and kidney function. MethodsThis is a prospective interventional study on high-risk diabetes patients who insisted on fasting. All patients were treated with insulin ± SGLT2I. All patients received a FGMS and Ramadan focused education. All patients attended clinic before and post Ramadan where they were advised on treatment modification as well as biometric and biochemical measurements. Results95 patients enrolled in the study and 49 of them were on SGLT2i. There was a no significant change in creatinine in both groups. FGMS showed an improvement in the sensor-calculated HbA1c from 7.3 ± 1.5 to 6.8 ± 1.1 and from 8 ± 1.6 to 7.7 ± 1.5 in the SGLT2 group and the non-SGT2i groups, respectively. The hypoglycemia was predominantly reported during Ramadan between 12:00 to 18:00 h, while in pre-Ramadan readings was during 2400–0600 and 1200–1800 slots. ConclusionsThis is the first study that assesses the use of SGLT2i along with insulin during Ramadan, using FGMS in high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes under optimal care. There was minimal interruption of fasting, significant improvement in glycemic control, and no significant change in the kidney function after Ramadan.