Fasting during Ramadan: efficacy, safety, and patient acceptability of vildagliptin in diabetic patients

Kamran MA Aziz Aseer Diabetes Center, Aseer Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, Abha, Saudi Arabia Abstract: Diabetes management during Ramadan fasting is challenging to the physician in terms of minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia. As compared to oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) and sulfonylureas...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Aziz KMA
Format: article
Language:EN
Published: Dove Medical Press 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doaj.org/article/ce42027a5dff45f9a689e17a89fda098
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Kamran MA Aziz Aseer Diabetes Center, Aseer Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, Abha, Saudi Arabia Abstract: Diabetes management during Ramadan fasting is challenging to the physician in terms of minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia. As compared to oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) and sulfonylureas (SUs), which carry a higher and significant risk of hypoglycemia, newer antidiabetic agents such as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have demonstrated lower risk of hypoglycemia during Ramadan fasting, with better patient compliance. In addition to diabetes education and pre-Ramadan assessments, the physician should also consider use of DPP-4 inhibitors (such as vildagliptin) during Ramadan fasting to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetic subjects. Severe episodes of hypoglycemia have been demonstrated in recent research and clinical trials with OHAs/SUs. Conversely, these research observations have also demonstrated comparative safety and efficacy with lower risk of hypoglycemia associated with vildagliptin. Current research review has collected evidence-based clinical trials and observations for the drug vildagliptin to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia during Ramadan fasting, while at the same time focusing the role of diabetes self-management education (DSME), pre-Ramadan assessments, and patient care. Keywords: hypoglycemia, DPP4-inhibitors, oral hypoglycemic agents, Ramadan fasting, type 2 diabetes, vildagliptin