Timing of Insulin Glargine Administration During Intermittent Ramadan Fasting in patients With Type1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial (GLARIF).
8 affiliations
- 1Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- 2King Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
- 3King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- 4King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Ministry of National Guard Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- 5King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- 6Chair of Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- 7King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- 8XPERTCARE Clinic, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Abstract
Objective
The effect of basal insulin timing on hypoglycemia during Ramadan fasting remains uncertain despite recommendations to administer basal insulin earlier in the evening. We evaluated whether early evening compared with bedtime administration of insulin glargine reduces hypoglycemia and improves glycemic outcomes in individuals with type1 diabetes (T1D) fasting during Ramadan.Methods
This multicenter open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted across 4 centers in Saudi Arabia. Participants with T1D intending to fast Ramadan were randomized to early evening or bedtime glargine administration. Glucose data were collected using self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (FreeStyle Libre), and blinded continuous glucose monitoring (CGM; Medtronic iPro2).Results
A total of 185 participants were analyzed (91 early evening, 94 bedtime). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Fasting interruption occurred in 75.9% versus 76.3% of participants (P = .94), with hypoglycemia accounting for >90% of interruptions in both groups. Hypoglycemia occurred predominantly during the morning period regardless of basal insulin timing. Severe hypoglycemia was reported in 2 versus 5 participants, and 1 diabetic ketoacidosis admission occurred in each group. Continuous glucose monitoring-derived glycemic metrics were similar between groups. Time in range (70-180 mg/dL) was 44.6% versus 46.1% (P = .70), time below range (<70 mg/dL) was 7.9% versus 6.4% (P = .35), and time above range (>180 mg/dL) was 47.5% in both groups (P = .99). Self-monitoring of blood glucose-detected hypoglycemic episodes and CGM-detected low glucose excursions were also comparable. Area under the curve below range was higher in the early evening group (P = .04).Conclusion
Changing insulin glargine administration from bedtime to earlier evening hours during Ramadan fasting did not significantly reduce hypoglycemia or improve overall glucose profiles in individuals with T1D. These findings suggest that routine universal shifting of basal insulin timing during Ramadan may not be necessary and support an individualized approach based on patient preference and glucose patterns.Clinicaltrials
gov identifier: NCT04383990.
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BibTeX
@article{alamoudi2026timing,
title = {{Timing of Insulin Glargine Administration During Intermittent Ramadan Fasting in patients With Type1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial (GLARIF).}},
author = {Reem Alamoudi and Ali Alqarni and Maram Alsubaiee and Ghofran Khogeer and Yousef Saleh and Abdulrhman Aljawharji and Hawazen Zarif and Salwa Alaidarous and Seham Khashwayn and Mohamed Hassanein},
journal = {Journal of diabetes science and technology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1177/19322968261493574},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42891564},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Timing of Insulin Glargine Administration During Intermittent Ramadan Fasting in patients With Type1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial (GLARIF).
AU - Reem Alamoudi
AU - Ali Alqarni
AU - Maram Alsubaiee
AU - Ghofran Khogeer
AU - Yousef Saleh
AU - Abdulrhman Aljawharji
AU - Hawazen Zarif
AU - Salwa Alaidarous
AU - Seham Khashwayn
AU - Mohamed Hassanein
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/17
JO - Journal of diabetes science and technology
DO - 10.1177/19322968261493574
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42891564
AB - Objective The effect of basal insulin timing on hypoglycemia during Ramadan fasting remains uncertain despite recommendations to administer basal insulin earlier in the evening. We evaluated whether early evening compared with bedtime administration of insulin glargine reduces hypoglycemia and improves glycemic outcomes in individuals with type1 diabetes (T1D) fasting during Ramadan.Methods This multicenter open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted across 4 centers in Saudi Arabia. Participants with T1D intending to fast Ramadan were randomized to early evening or bedtime glargine administration. Glucose data were collected using self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (FreeStyle Libre), and blinded continuous glucose monitoring (CGM; Medtronic iPro2).Results A total of 185 participants were analyzed (91 early evening, 94 bedtime). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Fasting interruption occurred in 75.9% versus 76.3% of participants (P = .94), with hypoglycemia accounting for >90% of interruptions in both groups. Hypoglycemia occurred predominantly during the morning period regardless of basal insulin timing. Severe hypoglycemia was reported in 2 versus 5 participants, and 1 diabetic ketoacidosis admission occurred in each group. Continuous glucose monitoring-derived glycemic metrics were similar between groups. Time in range (70-180 mg/dL) was 44.6% versus 46.1% (P = .70), time below range (<70 mg/dL) was 7.9% versus 6.4% (P = .35), and time above range (>180 mg/dL) was 47.5% in both groups (P = .99). Self-monitoring of blood glucose-detected hypoglycemic episodes and CGM-detected low glucose excursions were also comparable. Area under the curve below range was higher in the early evening group (P = .04).Conclusion Changing insulin glargine administration from bedtime to earlier evening hours during Ramadan fasting did not significantly reduce hypoglycemia or improve overall glucose profiles in individuals with T1D. These findings suggest that routine universal shifting of basal insulin timing during Ramadan may not be necessary and support an individualized approach based on patient preference and glucose patterns.Clinicaltrials gov identifier: NCT04383990.
SN - 1932-2968
ER -