title: The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Hospitalized Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Israel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been on the rise in recent years in the general population, as well as among patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to add information regarding the use of CAM in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in Israel and explore possible interactions between CAM and prescription medication (PM).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study based on questionnaires. The study included type 2 diabetic patients who were hospitalized in an internal medicine department at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel, between December 2013 and December 2014. Possible interactions between CAM and PM were evaluated by a clinical pharmacist and a clinical pharmacologist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 111 diabetic patients, 23.4% used CAM. There was no significant difference between the consumers and nonconsumers in terms of age, education, income, smoking, or alcohol habits. Only 11 of the 26 CAM consumers informed their physician regarding the use. We found possible drug-herb interactions in 19 of the 26 CAM consumers. A major interaction was found between omega-3 and antiaggregants and was encountered in 7 (26.9%) of the CAM consumers. Other minor and major interactions were found with vitamin E, ginkgo-biloba, co-enzyme Q10, green tea, fenugreek seeds, pyridoxine, and dandelion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since CAM consumption is on the rise, it is desirable to improve our knowledge concerning their potential effects and adverse effects, especially in conjunction with PM. Given the complexity of pharmaceutics in patients with chronic diseases, among them patients with DM, the use of supplementary medicine cannot be ignored.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine A, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center , Zerifin, Israel .|2 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel .
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koren
authors.affiliation: 3 Endocrinology and Metabolism Unit, Rabin Medical Center , Petah Tikva, Israel .
authors.forename: Ayelet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.affiliation: 2 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel .|3 Endocrinology and Metabolism Unit, Rabin Medical Center , Petah Tikva, Israel .
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tirosh
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine A, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center , Zerifin, Israel .
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zaidenstein
authors.affiliation: 2 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel .|4 Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health , Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel .
authors.forename: Tomer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ziv-Baran
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine A, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center , Zerifin, Israel .|2 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel .
authors.forename: Ahuva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golik
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine A, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center , Zerifin, Israel .|5 Diabetes Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center , Zerifin, Israel .
authors.forename: Shlomit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koren
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents