A Special Issue: Ramadan Fasting Research and Clinical Practice

It gives me great pleasure to welcome readers to the first issue of 2026 of the Journal of Diabetes and Endocrine Practice (JDEP). This is a special themed issue devoted entirely to Ramadan fasting (RF) and diabetes, reaffirming our commitment to publishing contextually relevant, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive research particularly across regions with shared health challenges. This is the first collaboration between JDEP and The Diabetes and Ramadan International Alliance (DaR). We are indebted to the unlimited support from DaR leadership and particularly to Professor Mohamed Hassanein, President of DaR. With 19 articles between originals and reviews, it will be the largest JDEP issue ever.

RF poses unique challenges for people living with diabetes, as well as for the healthcare professionals who care for them. Over the past two decades, we have witnessed significant advances in understanding the risks and management strategies associated with fasting in this population. This issue represents a major step forward in that evolving discourse.

A consistent theme throughout the contributions in this issue is the integration of emerging evidence, regional data, and multidisciplinary perspectives, with a growing emphasis on real-world evidence, digital innovation, and individualized care strategies. I am particularly encouraged by the increasing participation in multinational collaborations and the role of the Diabetes and Ramadan (DaR) Global Survey as a cornerstone for much of the original research presented here.

We open with a narrative review exploring the exciting intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and Ramadan-focused diabetes care, examining how emerging technologies may support risk stratification, patient education, and clinical decision-making during fasting periods. This is complemented by an original survey of physicians' perceptions of AI, highlighting both optimism and gaps in implementation and confidence in digital tools.

Several articles in this issue focus on the validation and refinement of the IDF-DAR Risk Calculator—a critical tool now increasingly integrated into clinical practice across various regions. In particular, a study exploring the predictive validity of its elements adds practical insights for frontline clinicians, while the 2026 update of the calculator is a key milestone worth noting for policy-makers and health systems.

Nutritional and pharmacologic strategies remain central to safe fasting. Two randomized crossover trials assess hypoglycemia risks in type 1 diabetes, looking, respectively, at the role of whey protein intake and the timing of nocturnal meals. Meanwhile, a study on insulin regimen patterns in global DaR data sheds light on evolving trends in pharmacologic strategies during FR.

A strong cluster of original contributions draws upon the DaR Global Surveys (2020–2022), examining patient outcomes and safety indicators in populations with diabetic retinopathy, chronic kidney disease, macrovascular and microvascular complications, and neuropathy and diabetic foot disease. These findings enhance our understanding of the heterogeneity of fasting outcomes in high-risk groups and guide both clinicians and patients in shared decision-making.

Health professional education and practice are also addressed. We include a Moroccan study exploring knowledge and practices among healthcare providers, as well as a cross-national survey on the use of GLP-1 RAs and SGLT2 inhibitors during Ramadan. These articles reinforce the crucial role of physician engagement and practice audits in improving fasting care.

Notably, the issue includes insights into voluntary fasting during Shawwal by a self-selected group with implications to the fasting during Ramadan, which may help future in patient stratification and fasting preparedness programs.

Taken together, the articles in this issue represent a comprehensive and diverse portfolio of Ramadan-focused research—from mechanistic insights and practical interventions to large-scale observational data and forward-looking digital innovations. Many of the contributing authors are well-known pioneers in Ramadan and diabetes research, and I am especially pleased to see younger researchers and cross-national collaborations flourishing under this theme.

We hope that this special issue serves both as a scholarly reference and a practical resource, informing guidelines, stimulating future research, and ultimately enhancing patient care during Ramadan. I thank all contributing authors for their high-quality submissions and the peer reviewers for their thoughtful evaluations, which collectively uphold the standards and relevance of JDEP.

In 2026, JDEP steps into its 9th year of its age. GAED and the JDEP editorial team are committed to the mission of the journal, stated in its first issue and repeatedly affirmed over the past 8 years, and we have sustained a steady flow of articles ([Table 1]). We have been working with our publisher (Thieme) to make the necessary applications for indexation. Yet, we are aware of the difficulties facing emerging journals from developing regions in gaining entry into international indexation status. We invite further submissions across the spectrum of diabetes and endocrine research, with particular encouragement for work that bridges the gap between clinical science and the lived realities of our patients.

Table 1 The increasing volume and varying content of work published in the Journal of Diabetes and Endocrine Practice over the past 8 years (2018–2025)

Year	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Number of issues	1	1	3	4	4	4	4	4
Number of pages	46	15	120	231	180	197	203	269
Original articles	0	3	5	15	9	5	5	14
Review articles	1	0	1	6	4	5	9	3
Editorials	1	0	1	4	4	4	4	4
Viewpoints and commentaries	0	0	0	3	7	2	5	1
Cases and clinical vignettes	2	1	2	3	7	2	5	6
Conference-related[a]	1	0	1	1	2	4	4	3
Special communications	0	0	0	1	1	2	3	1
Total number of articles	5	4	10	37	34	23	31	32

^a Conference-related material was either an abstract book submitted by authors or reflective accounts highlighting the conference proceedings by independent delegates.

Happy New Year and a very blessed Ramadan.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Authorship Contribution

Single author.

Compliance with Ethical Principles

Not applicable.

Publication History

Article published online:
30 January 2026