Experience of Diabetic Patients for the Usage of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapy

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is common in every community, but its management always seems to be challenging. The alternative medicine (AM) therapies in multiple ways have been widely accepted by individuals suffering from various diseases. This study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge and experience of diabetic patients towards the implication of multiple AM therapies. Methods: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and experiences of diabetic patients regarding the use of various alternative medicine therapies. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, and statistical software SPSS was employed for data analysis. Results: Out of 469 diabetic patients, 123 were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, 333 had type 2 diabetes, and the remaining patients had gestational diabetes. A majority of the diabetic patients (61.3%) reported that combining alternative medicine (AM) with allopathic diabetic medicines effectively controlled their blood sugar levels. Interestingly, 64.7% of patients received recommendations from diabetologists to incorporate AM therapies into their treatment plans. Among all diabetic patients, 85.3% believed that AM therapies had no side effects. Herbal medicines/herbs were favored by 28.7% of diabetic patients, while 15.4% and 14.5% reported experiencing the effectiveness of homeopathy and yoga, respectively, for diabetic therapy. Conclusion: This comprehensive study reveals the potential of alternative medicine therapies in managing diabetes. However, it emphasizes the importance of exercising caution when relying solely on specific complementary and alternative medicine approaches during the follow-up process.