Effect of Complementary and Alternative Medications (CAM) on Diabetic Control among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Alabed Ali A. Alabed, Fatima Mohammed A. Hmadi, Abdullah Y. Al-Mahdi, Elan Selvi Anandan, Rasheed Abdulsalam, Sami A.R. Aldubai and Hasanain Faisal Ghazi

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness which leads to disability, hospitalization and eventually death. There is an emerging trend worldwide for patients to use complementary and alternative medications (CAMs) in an attempt to improve the outcomes of their illnesses as well as general well-being. This study aimed to assess the attitude and the popularity of using complementary and alternative medications and its perceived effect in diabetic control among Libyans adult who were diagnosed with type-2diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 192 adult diabetic patients, who are still under follow-up in two medical centers, Libya. Descriptive statistic and bivariate analysis were performed to assess all the included variables and to identify the association between all variables and the outcome. Results: The mean age of the participants was 46.21±11.87. Most of the respondents were males (56.8%). The majority used CAM (64.6%) and the most common CAM used was cinnamon (41.9%). Factors associated with perceived sugar control were type of pharmaceutical drugs used, perceived health condition, satisfaction with CAM, types of CAM used and frequency of CAM consumption (p<0.05). Conclusion: CAM is used commonly among most of the Libyan in Zliten city as more than 60% use CAM to control glucose level. Most of the participants were satisfied with CAM and had good attitude toward it.

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