Utilisation pattern and factors associated with the use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with diabetes

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of CAM use among patients with diabetes along with socio-demographic factors that are associated with the use of CAM. This cross-sectional study was carried out in diabetes health clinic, Hospital Tuanku Jaa’far, Seremban, Malaysia. The study sample was conveniently selected from patients who had been diagnosed with diabetes and were using CAM regularly in conjunction with conventional treatment for at least last 1 year. A total of 230 patients with diabetes mellitus were interviewed in this study. Almost half of the patients (49.6%) were using CAM in conjunction with conventional treatment for diabetes. About 64% of CAM users were using CAM and oral hypoglycaemic agents concomitantly. The education level (P = 0.025), family history of CAM use (P = 0.001) and monthly household income (P = 0.029) were found to be significantly associated with CAM use. The comparison of current mean blood-glucose levels between CAM and non-CAM users showed that CAM users tend to have lower fasting blood glucose (FBG) (P = 0.045, 7.171 versus 8.767), random blood glucose (RBG) (10.242 versus 11.117) and HbA1c (8.436 versus 8.676). Moreover, CAM users also reported to have reduced number of admissions or visits to hospitals or clinics. The key causes that resulted in high frequency of CAM use as reported by the patients in this study were quality and safety of CAM, wanting to try new alternative treatment without abandoning conventional treatment and family history of CAM use