title: Utilization patterns and cost of complementary and alternative medicine compared to conventional medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the use and annual cost of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) compared to conventional medicine in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in the Korean population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the database of 2752 DM patients obtained from the Korean National Diabetes Program (KNDP). The cost data of conventional medicine starting 1-year before enrolment of the KNDP were obtained from the hospital electronic database. The cost data of CAM over the same period were obtained from questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 2752 subjects, 677 patients (24.6%) used CAM, with the most common type being red ginseng and herbal medicine. Patients with a higher income, neuropathy, and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) were more likely to use CAM. Men, those with a higher education level and income, no cerebrovascular accident (CVA) history, and SMBG showed a relatively higher cost of CAM of total medical cost. The independent predictors for CAM were a higher income, the existence of diabetic neuropathy, no CVA history, and SMBG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use and cost of CAM varied depending on income, accompanying complications and SMBG. To evaluate the total medical costs in DM patients, a comprehensive approach considering not only conventional cost but also CAM is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hae Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Dae Jung
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Young Seol
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong Taek
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Yongsoo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Moon Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Sei Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.forename: Kyu Jeung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Kwan Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires