title: Tes, Licuados, and Capsulas: herbal self-care remedies of Latino/Hispanic immigrants for type 2 diabetes.
abstract: The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive study was to explore the characteristics of herbal remedy use for diabetes among Latinos/Hispanics with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  
  A convenience sample of 75 Latino/Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes was recruited from community-based settings in North Carolina. Data were collected through face-to-face bilingual interviews. Measures included a demographic questionnaire; the Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Practices Questionnaire; and biophysical indicators of A1C and body mass index.
  
  
  
  Sixty-nine percent of the sample reported using herbal remedies for diabetes self-care. Forty-nine herbal products were identified. The most commonly reported products were prickly pear cactus, aloe vera, celery, and chayote. The perceived effectiveness of products varied; some said they helped "a lot" while others noted the development of side effects. Over three quarters (77%) of persons using herbal remedies reported concurrent use with prescribed medications. Also, some participants reported skipping or altering the dose of diabetes medications when using herbal remedies. Most (77%) reported not disclosing herbal remedy use to health care providers.
  
  
  
  Diabetes educators and other health care providers need to ask Latino/Hispanic clients about their use of herbal remedies and become knowledgeable about herbal products to provide advice about safety.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina, USA (Dr Amirehsani, Dr Wallace)
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Amirehsani
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina, USA (Dr Amirehsani, Dr Wallace)
authors.forename: Debra C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe; D000077102:Apium; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D029747:Opuntia; D061214:Patient Safety; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
references.citation: Ann Fam Med. 2009 Mar-Apr;7(2):139-47
references.pmid: 19273869
references.citation: Phytomedicine. 2011 Dec 15;19(1):32-7
references.pmid: 22133295
references.citation: Ann Pharmacother. 2010 Jul-Aug;44(7-8):1334-7
references.pmid: 20516361
references.citation: Complement Ther Med. 2010 Dec;18(6):241-8
references.pmid: 21130360
references.citation: Diabetes Care. 2003 Apr;26(4):1277-94
references.pmid: 12663610
references.citation: Diabetes Educ. 2007 Jan-Feb;33(1):41-4
references.pmid: 17272791
references.citation: J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2004 Nov;15(4):576-88
references.pmid: 15531816
references.citation: J Am Board Fam Med. 2006 Nov-Dec;19(6):566-78
references.pmid: 17090790
references.citation: Public Health Nurs. 2008 May-Jun;25(3):203-11
references.pmid: 18477371
references.citation: Diabetes Care. 2003 Aug;26(8):2470-1
references.pmid: 12882883
references.citation: Diabetes Educ. 2005 Jul-Aug;31(4):543-54
references.pmid: 16100330
references.citation: Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 May-Jun;9(3):42-9
references.pmid: 12776474
references.citation: Ann Pharmacother. 2007 Jun;41(6):994-1004
references.pmid: 17504837
references.citation: J Rural Health. 2005 Spring;21(2):187-91
references.pmid: 15859058
references.citation: Phytother Res. 2006 Apr;20(4):250-5
references.pmid: 16557605
references.citation: J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jul 14;99(3):325-48
references.pmid: 15964161
references.citation: Clin Nurs Res. 2003 Nov;12(4):304-23
references.pmid: 14620689
references.citation: Natl Health Stat Report. 2008 Dec 10;(12):1-23
references.pmid: 19361005
references.citation: Int J Emerg Med. 2009 Jun 10;2(2):69-76
references.pmid: 20157447
references.citation: J Fam Pract. 2000 Mar;49(3):216-23
references.pmid: 10735480
references.citation: Diabetes Educ. 1998 May-Jun;24(3):331-9
references.pmid: 9677951
references.citation: J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Dec;10(6):1061-6
references.pmid: 15674002
references.citation: J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash). 2002 Mar-Apr;42(2):217-26
references.pmid: 11926665