During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to abstain from taking any food or beverages between dawn and sunset during this month. All healthy Muslims are obliged to fast during Ramadan. However, if an individual’s health may be significantly affected by fasting or when one is ill, the Quran exempts him or her from fasting. Nevertheless, many Muslims with diabetes are passionate to fast during the month of Ramadan. The prevalence of Muslims with Type 2 diabetes in the United Kingdom is estimated to be about 325,000. However the safety of fasting has never been studied in the United Kingdom Muslim population with Type 2 diabetes.

In 2005, the American Diabetes Association published a consensus statement on the management of diabetes during Ramadan. Individualised management plan and close follow-up were highly recommended to reduce the risks of development of complications.
The United Kingdom Ramadan Diabetes Network was established to

1. Promote fasting safely during the month of Ramadan for people with Diabetes
2. Develope educational tools for health care professionals and patients
3. Investigate areas of research interest