Background: Diabetes is common in every community, but its management always seems
to be challenging. The alternative medicine (AM) therapies in multiple ways have been
widely accepted by individuals suffering from various diseases. This study was undertaken
to evaluate the knowledge and experience of diabetic patients towards the implication
of multiple AM therapies. Methods: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and
experiences of diabetic patients regarding the use of various alternative medicine
therapies. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, and statistical
software SPSS was employed for data analysis. Results: Out of 469 diabetic patients,
123 were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, 333 had type 2 diabetes, and the remaining
patients had gestational diabetes. A majority of the diabetic patients (61.3%) reported
that combining alternative medicine (AM) with allopathic diabetic medicines effectively
controlled their blood sugar levels. Interestingly, 64.7% of patients received recommendations
from diabetologists to incorporate AM therapies into their treatment plans. Among
all diabetic patients, 85.3% believed that AM therapies had no side effects. Herbal
medicines/herbs were favored by 28.7% of diabetic patients, while 15.4% and 14.5%
reported experiencing the effectiveness of homeopathy and yoga, respectively, for
diabetic therapy. Conclusion: This comprehensive study reveals the potential of alternative
medicine therapies in managing diabetes. However, it emphasizes the importance of
exercising caution when relying solely on specific complementary and alternative medicine
approaches during the follow-up process.
