Use of complementary medicine among people with diabetes in eastern Turkey: A descriptive study

Abstract Purpose To measure the frequency, type, purpose of complementary medicine (CM) use among people with diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods The population of this descriptive study consisted of the patients hospitalized in the endocrine clinic of a university hospital in Eastern Turkey who were diagnosed with diabetes. Data were collected from 316 patients. Results 43.0% of the patients were using CM, and 97.0% of those using CM tried herbal methods. The patients who had variable glycated haemoglobin values (60.3%) and those who had DM-related complications (60.3%) used CM more. Conclusion It was determined that CM usage was prevalent among the patients. The most frequently used CM method was herbal therapy. We found that the use of CM was more common in patients with poor metabolic control. Therefore, healthcare professionals must be assess use of CM and provide suitable counseling.