Use of Herbal Products in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Aim: Use of herbal products is relatively common among general population. We aimed to study the use of herbal products for any reason in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: A questionnaire containing objective questions was filled for 120 type 2 diabetic patients. This form included sociodemographic characteristics, DM history, other comorbidities, diabetic complications, details about the use of the herbal product and knowledge of the physician. Results: 60.8% of patients were female, 86.7% were married and 65% were primary school graduates. The mean age was 57.4±11.1 years 52.1% of patients used one or more herbal products after diagnosis of DM, while 10% used before diagnosis. 48.4% of subjects provided them from herb and spice sellers and 29% from gardens and vineyards. Only 6.5% of patients decided to use them on the advice of a health-care professional. 82.3% of subjects did not inform their physician. There was no relationship of use of herbal products, its frequency, type of the product and advisor with gender, marriage status and education status. Conclusion: Use of complementary and alternative medicine among diabetic patients is quite frequent and considering the low rate of informing the physician, placing restriction on these products as well as education of patients is of prime importance. (The Medical Bulletin of Haseki 2015; 53:214-9)

Keywords

• Complementary and alternative medicine
• chronic disease
• diabetes mellitus
• herbal product