title: Fasting practices in Tamil Nadu and their importance for patients with diabetes.
abstract: Religious practices and cultural customs related to eating habits have a significant impact on lifestyle and health of the community. The Ramadan fasting in Muslims and its influence on various metabolic parameters such as diabetes have been reasonably studied. However, literature related to Hindu religious customs related to fasting and food patterns during various festivals and its effect on diabetes are scarce. This article is an attempt to describe the Hindu religious customs related to fasting and food practices from the State of Tamil Nadu (South India) and to raise the awareness among physicians about its relationship with diabetes which may help in managing their diabetic patients in a better way.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bariatric Medicine, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Subramanian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Shriraam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahadevan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seshadri
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Surgery, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Dhalapathy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sadacharan
authors.affiliation: Alpha Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Kumaravel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Velayutham
keywords: Diabetes; South India; Tamil Nadu; fasting; festivals