Abstract:
Background: Most Hindu households in Jaffna practice fasting during the festival season. Fasting
or abstinence from certain foods and feasting are known to be associated with changes in the level
of blood sugar.
Objectives: To assess fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels, Hindu festival fasting practices and
associated socio-demographic and lifestyle factors among Hindu patients with diabetes mellitus
attending the Family Health Centre (FHC), Kondavil, Jaffna, during the Hindu festival season
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among patients with diabetes mellitus attending
FHC Kondavil from September to November 2022. An interviewer-administered questionnaire
was used to collect data on fasting practices during the past 24 hours. FBS data were extracted
from the FHC laboratory register. Mann-Whitney U test was used to test for differences in FBS by
fasting practices, socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. p<0.05 was considered as statistically
significant.
Results: Of total, 102 (80.9%) out of 126 patients with diabetes registered at the FHC
participated. Mean(±SD) age was 60.4(±11.3) years; 57.8% were ≥60 years. Majority was females
(68.6%), married (98.0%), without GCE O/L qualifications (58.9%), unemployed (75.5%), with a
monthly household income of <LKR 50,000 (91.2%). In the sample, 23.5% (n=24) reported
fasting during the past 24 hours; all (n=24) had skipped breakfast; six (5.9%) skipped breakfast
and lunch; 18 (75%) skipped only breakfast, and none skipped dinner. Among those who fasted,
one (4%) did not take prescribed medication. FBS did not differ significantly between those who
fasted and those who did not (median 119.3 vs. 105.0 mg/dL; p=0.338). FBS was higher among
those <60 years compared to those above 60 (median 130.8 vs. 100 mg/dL; p<0.001); and the
married compared to others (median 119.4 vs. 101.4 mg/dL; p=0.032). Although males, those with
≥O/L qualifications and the employed had higher median FBS, the differences were not significant
(p>0.05).
Conclusions: Hindu fasting practices were not associated with FBS. As median FBS was higher
among the fasting group, a longitudinal study is needed to explore the effect of fasting and
feasting during Hindu festivals
