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Complementary and alternative medicine in diabetes care.
Monica M DiNardo1, Jolynn M Gibson, Lara Siminerio
1University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, 3500 Victoria Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. mmm52@pitt.edu
Current Diabetes Reports
|September 19, 2012
Summary
Many people with diabetes use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) alongside conventional treatments. Emerging evidence suggests CAM may improve health outcomes, but more research is needed for clinical recommendations.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine and Diabetes Management
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Research
Background:
- Increasing global prevalence of diabetes necessitates exploring diverse management strategies.
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use is common among individuals with diabetes.
- Herbal products and mind-body therapies represent popular CAM modalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role and impact of CAM in diabetes care.
- To assess the potential benefits of CAM on glycemic control, cardiovascular risk, and quality of life in type 2 diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Review of current findings on CAM use in diabetes management.
- Analysis of emerging evidence for natural products and mind-body therapies.
Main Results:
- CAM may foster an integrative, participatory model of diabetes care.
- Preliminary evidence indicates potential positive effects of some CAM on glycemic parameters, cardiovascular risk markers, and quality of life in type 2 diabetes patients.
Conclusions:
- CAM use is prevalent and may complement conventional diabetes therapy.
- Further rigorous research is required to validate the efficacy and safety of CAM modalities for clinical recommendation in diabetes management.
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