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Ramadan and GLP-1 treatment: what to prepare with your doctor
Fasting during Ramadan while on a GLP-1 treatment is prepared weeks ahead with the doctor. What the diabetes and Ramadan guidelines say about hydration, iftar, suhoor, and the signs that call for breaking the fast.
Short answer
Fasting during Ramadan on a GLP-1 treatment is prepared with the doctor who follows you, several weeks before the month starts. The guidelines of the International Diabetes Federation and the DaR (Diabetes and Ramadan) Alliance, published in 2021, place this check-up about six to eight weeks ahead. Fasting safely with diabetes in Ramadan covers the wider picture. Three points come back everywhere: drink enough between iftar and suhoor, eat small portions that include protein, and know which signs mean breaking the fast. Everything that touches the treatment, including when it is taken, is the doctor's decision and nobody else's. This article is not medical advice.
Before Ramadan: the consultation
The consultation first assesses risk. The guideline of the International Diabetes Federation and the DaR Alliance (2021) sorts people into risk categories according to the type of diabetes, the other treatments, complications, recent low blood sugar episodes, and the ability to monitor blood glucose. In its public version, the Federation's guide lists pregnancy, kidney or heart problems, and acute illness among the very high risk situations where one must not fast, and it states that the decision rests on medical opinion. These categories were designed for diabetes, whereas many people on a GLP-1 treatment do not have it. That is one more reason to ask the doctor what applies to your own situation: is fasting an option, what needs watching, who to call in case of a malaise. Then comes the religious question: does an injection break the fast? The question exists, but it belongs neither to nutrition nor to medicine. It has to be put to a scholar or an imam.
The risks to know about
Dehydration. Fasting removes drinking during the day, and thirst may be felt less on this kind of treatment, according to a doctor interviewed by the Khaleej Times in 2026. An article in Nursing in Practice (2026), written by a dietitian at NHS Lothian, says fasting can amplify the digestive effects and raise the risk of constipation, dehydration, and deficiencies. Digestive discomfort. A 2025 systematic review (Kamrul-Hasan et al., World Journal of Methodology) gathered four studies and 754 people with type 2 diabetes who were fasting: nausea and vomiting were more frequent with a GLP-1 treatment, with no severe low blood sugar in either group. The authors consider the evidence limited. Low blood sugar. According to Nursing in Practice, it mostly concerns people whose GLP-1 treatment is added to other diabetes medicines, such as insulin or sulfonylureas. Only the doctor can judge these combinations.
Iftar and suhoor: getting organised, in a table
The Federation's guide recommends splitting the day's food between iftar, suhoor, and one or two snacks, favouring high-fibre foods, fruit, and vegetables, drinking between sunset and sunrise, and limiting sweetened or caffeinated drinks and sugary desserts. On protein, protein and fullness explains why it matters when appetite is reduced. The table sums it up.
| Moment | What the guides suggest | With whom |
|---|---|---|
| Before Ramadan | Appointment six to eight weeks ahead; bring the list of treatments; ask what to monitor and whom to call | The doctor who follows you |
| At iftar | Start with water, then small portions with lean protein; one or two dates; little fried or sugary food | A dietitian if needed |
| At suhoor | High-fibre starchy foods (oats, brown rice, bulgur), pulses or another protein source, fruit and vegetables; moderate portion; drink | A dietitian if needed |
| Warning signs | Persistent vomiting, strong abdominal pain, dizziness, little urine, shaking, sweating: break the fast and contact the doctor | The doctor or emergency services |
The signs that mean breaking the fast
The Federation's guide is plain: if you feel unwell, break the fast immediately and always keep your medication with you. For people with diabetes who measure their blood glucose, it sets the limits at below 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L) or above 300 mg/dl (16.6 mmol/L), with a new measurement one to two hours later. It lists the signs of low blood sugar (sweating, shaking, dizziness, blurred vision, fast pulse) and of dehydration (increased thirst, less urine, dry mouth, lips, and skin). Nursing in Practice (2026) adds persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, dizziness on standing, and reduced urine output as reasons to call a health professional. After any such episode, tell the doctor who follows you. Sehtin is preparing a complete guide on eating well on a GLP-1 treatment: you can ask to be notified when it comes out, just below this article.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fast during Ramadan on a GLP-1 treatment? It depends on each person's situation, and only the doctor who follows them can judge. The guides recommend raising it six to eight weeks before Ramadan and name situations where fasting is not advised. Does an injection break the fast? The question exists, and it is a religious one, not a nutritional one: it has to be put to a scholar or an imam. When the treatment is taken is something to settle with the doctor. What should you drink between iftar and suhoor? Mainly water, spread over the evening, and drinks without sugar or caffeine, as the Federation's guide advises. Water, hydration and diabetes gives more detail.
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This article relays the public teachings of Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi for educational and informative purposes. It is not medical advice. Consult your physician before any dietary change. Legal notice.