Table 4 CAM related characteristics among CAM users (n = 86)
CAM related characteristics | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
Type of used CAM | ||
Herbal products | 58 | 67.4 |
Leaf of Gynura procumbens | 42 | 48.8 |
Fenugreek | 23 | 26.7 |
Bitter gourd | 17 | 19.8 |
Turmeric | 14 | 16.3 |
Okra | 26 | 30.2 |
Others | 9 | 10.5 |
Homeopathic medicine | 32 | 37.2 |
Traditional/religious method | 8 | 9.3 |
Multivitamin/food supplements (other than prescription) | 5 | 5.8 |
Others | 3 | 3.5 |
Source of information about CAM | ||
Friends/ neighbors | 44 | 51.2 |
Family members | 18 | 20.9 |
Media/ advertisements | 10 | 11.6 |
CAM practitioners (Kabiraj/Herbal/ Homeo practitioner) | 12 | 13.9 |
Diabetes doctor | 2 | 2.3 |
Mode of CAM use | ||
As alternative therapy | 24 | 27.9 |
As complementary therapy | 62 | 72.1 |
Reasons of CAM use | ||
CAM helps in diabetes control | 38 | 44.2 |
Easily available and cheap | 24 | 27.9 |
Dissatisfied with Conventional medicine | 8 | 9.3 |
Less side effects | 6 | 7 |
No specific cause | 20 | 23.3 |
Self-reported efficacy of CAM | ||
Very good | 12 | 14 |
Good | 28 | 32.6 |
Nothing significant | 46 | 53.5 |
Experienced any side effect | ||
No | 74 | 86 |
Yes | 12 | 14 |
Reported side effects (n = 12) | ||
Abdominal discomfort | 6 | 50 |
Nausea, vomiting | 4 | 33.3 |
Vertigo | 2 | 16.6 |
Hypoglycemia | 2 | 16.6 |
Others | 3 | 36 |