Integrating IDF-DAR Risk Stratification and Telemedicine in Ramadan Diabetes Care: The Suhar Hospital Experience

Fasting during Ramadan poses complex challenges for individuals with diabetes, particularly those classified as high risk. Over the past decade, Suhar Hospital in Oman has implemented a structured Ramadan diabetes care model that Incorporating IDF-DAR risk stratification, individualized Patient education, digital health support, and close follow-up. This Comprehensive approach has enabled many patients, including those with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), to fast safely and with minimal metabolic disruption. Key elements of the program’s success include early risk assessment, personalized care plans, and continuous monitoring via telemedicine platforms such as WhatsApp. A notable 2024 case involving a young woman with T1DM illustrates the model’s transformative potential: she completed the fasting period without major complications despite her high-risk status. Multicenter clinical data further support high rates of fasting success among low- and moderate-risk individuals, and select high-risk patients. Suhar Hospital’s experience offers a culturally attuned and scalable framework for safe Ramadan fasting, highlighting the critical role of structured education and digital communication in optimizing diabetes care.