Considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar that is observed by Muslims as a time of fasting. Muslims with diabetes may be exempted from fasting during this period, but many choose to fast. Patients should be assessed beforehand, as dawn to dusk fasting could put them at risk for hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and dehydration. How can care best be individualized to meet the needs of this patient during this critical period?

Multicultural societies exist worldwide, and culture can greatly impact the success of self-managed treatment plans. Diabetes management requires people to engage in multiple healthy behaviors that are shaped by an individual’s culture, and culturally appropriate diabetes care requires practitioners to have competencies in specific areas of cultural knowledge. Amparo Gonzalez, MPH, RN, CDCES, FADCES presents on culturally relevant diabetes care for the Latino population.

Low health literacy and numeracy are common and are associated with poor health outcomes across chronic disease states. In diabetes, health literacy and numeracy are related to diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy, self-care behaviors, and glucose control. Health literacy and numeracy are important to diabetes self-care behaviors, which include glucose monitoring, healthy eating, and taking medication.

Eating healthy and being healthy is a lifelong process, and weight loss and weight maintenance are crucial aspects of this process. People require different skill sets and behaviors for weight loss and weight maintenance. Losing weight is an important first step, which is then followed by more a permanent way of living so the weight stays off. Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDCES, BC-ADM FADCES discusses principles of both weight loss and weight maintenance.