Prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Usage in Patients of Diabetes Mellitus in Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Background

We surveyed the prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) usage in patients with chronic diseases like DM (Diabetes Mellitus). As CAM usage is very common in patients with chronic diseases like DM, it is because therapy for such diseases is lifelong. So, the current study might also illuminate the significance of establishing frameworks to control the introduction, standardisation, and usage of CAM.

Objectives

The current study sought to explore the prevalence, identify predictors of CAM, and describe the preferred CAM therapy among diabetic patients in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Materials and Methods

An anonymous cross-sectional survey in MMR was conducted from March 1 to June 26, 2022. Among the total participants (n=105), 81% of patients were aware of CAM therapy, and from them, 55.2% of people were using CAM therapy. Most patients with the frequency of 43.1% preferred a combination of different types of CAM, rather than using any single CAM therapy.

Results

The participants in the category of age group above 60 years were predominant (46.7%), having a duration of diabetes of 6-15 years. There was a significant association between the CAM users and non-CAM users in gender, education and place of residence (p=0.03, p=0.03 and p=0.01, respectively). Clinical characteristic like duration of diabetes was also associated with CAM use. The major population revealed that there is no change in the CAM therapy that they are using even after new symptoms have arisen.

Conclusion

There is strong awareness of CAM among diabetic patients. The combination of two or more CAM therapies is prevalent in diabetic patients in metropolitan region and people also intentionally try and spend CAM therapy in their desperation for sugar control. A standard protocol of CAM therapies integrated with modern medicines is in need of an hour.