title: Complementary and alternative medicine in diabetes care.
abstract: Growing numbers of people with diabetes in the U.S. and worldwide use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) while receiving conventional medical therapy as a means of managing disease and improving quality of life. Although herbal and natural products are the most commonly used forms of CAM, mind-body approaches are also gaining popularity and scientific interest. Current findings suggest that CAM may help to promote an integrative, participatory model of diabetes care that relies upon provider knowledge of evidence-based therapies and patient disclosure of CAM use. Emerging evidence of positive findings with some natural products and mind-body therapies have been reported in glycemic parameters, markers of cardiovascular risk, and quality of life in individuals with type 2 diabetes; however, further investigation in well-designed, adequately powered studies is needed before use of CAM modalities can be recommended as part of clinical care.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, 3500 Victoria Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. mmm52@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Monica M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: DiNardo
authors.forename: Jolynn M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Siminerio
authors.forename: Allison R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Morell
authors.forename: Edward S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States