When should a person with diabetes break a fast?
Good glucose control alone does not establish that fasting is safe. Review medicines, previous hypoglycaemia and complications beforehand. Break the fast for low or very high glucose, dehydration or illness symptoms; do not independently change insulin or tablets.
Details
Know action thresholds
IDF guidance advises breaking the fast below 70 mg/dL or above 300 mg/dL, or with illness or dehydration symptoms. Your plan may use more cautious limits. Do not wait for a threshold if you are becoming unwell.
Treat a hypo promptly
If awake and able to swallow, use fast-acting carbohydrate according to your plan and recheck after about 15 minutes. Unconsciousness or inability to swallow requires emergency help; give nothing by mouth.
Plan before Ramadan
Agree medicine timing, monitoring and sick-day actions. Vomiting, abdominal pain or abnormal breathing with high glucose needs urgent care, not waiting until sunset.
Related reading: How should someone with a chronic condition assess Ramadan fasting?.