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An Egyptian-British mother on hunger strike protesting her son's imprisonment in Cairo will take a second glucose dose in the hope of seeing him again, a campaign group said on Monday.

Laila Soueif, 68, has been on hunger strike for 155 days in protest at Egypt's detention of Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has been in jail for more than five years.

Soueif has lost almost 30 kilograms (66 pounds) since starting her hunger strike, which she has vowed to continue until her son is released.

She agreed on Monday to take a second dose of glucose after being admitted to London's St Thomas's Hospital last week to "give some time" after Prime Minister Keir Starmer phoned Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Friday to press her son's case.

Fattah, 43, a pro-democracy and rights campaigner, was arrested by Egyptian authorities in September 2019 and given a five-year sentence for "spreading false news".

Soueif has lived on only coffee, tea and rehydration sachets since September 29, 2024, the date that marked five years in detention for her son.

"Laila Soueif will continue not to eat, and therefore continue her hunger strike, today on day 155, and will take a glucose drip under observation in hospital," the Free Alaa campaign said.

Soueif's sugar levels rose after she was given a first glucose dose on Thursday, but "dropped again ... overnight," the campaign said.

Soueif said she welcomed the news that Starmer had spoken to Sisi on Friday, and was grateful for the premier's intervention.

"There have been times that I have doubted I would survive to see Alaa free. But now I am cautiously optimistic that I might," she said in a statement.

"So I am accepting more glucose drip to give some time to secure Alaa's release, but I hope this can happen very soon."