Complementary and alternative medicine use by diabetic patients in rural Bengaluru

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among patients with chronic diseases in developing countries. The rising use of CAM in the management of diabetes is an emerging public health concern given the potential adverse effects, drug interactions and benefits associated with its use. The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence regarding complementary and alternative medicines among diabetic patients and to assess the perception and factors influencing use of complementary and alternative medicines among diabetic patients.Methods: A community based cross sectional study including diabetic subjects aged more than 18 years was conducted in the rural area of Bengaluru Expecting the prevalence of CAM use to be 67% as with Kumar et al, a minimum of 136 subjects were required to conduct study. Data from 150 diabetic subjects were collected during house to house visit in rural area by using a pre structured questionnaire. Diabetic subjects were randomly selected using multi stage random sampling method.Results: Most of the participants (80%) were aware of CAM and prevalence of CAM use was 54.6%. Significantly the use of CAM was more among females, literates, with diabetic complications and with family history of DM. The common source of information on CAM was friends (45.8%) and neighbors (25.8%). Desire for the quick and additional relief, low cost and easy availability was the prime factors influencing use of complementary and alternative medicines.Conclusions: The prevalence of CAM use among diabetic patients is high. Physicians need to understand CAM better and communicate more with patients.

Anti-diabetic drugs prescription pattern by postgraduate students among type 2 diabetes patients attending a tertiary care hospital

Background: The pattern of prescribing anti-diabetic drugs varies among different medical professionals due to the availability of numerous anti-diabetic drugs and demographic and have increasingly favoured for tighter control of glycemic index. Even with the available multiple therapies many patients are not in control. The reasons may be multi factorial and the one important factor is the drugs prescribed.Methods: This cross-sectional study involving 140 type 2 adult diabetes patients was done to assess the pattern of anti-diabetic drugs prescribed by the postgraduate students in a tertiary health care center using a specially designed questionnaire.Results: Oral medications were predominantly prescribed. Metformin and Glimepiride combination was prescribed in majority. Among insulin, combination of short and intermediate acting insulin was prescribed more and the number of insulin prescription increased with the duration of diabetes. Interestingly no newer classes of drugs are prescribed.Conclusions: There is a rational prescription pattern of antidiabetic drugs but newer antidiabetic drugs are not prescribed and life style changes are not discussed with the patients. There is a need to include life style changes as a part of prescription to all the patients.

Rural population at risk of development of diabetes mellitus: a cross sectional study using Indian Diabetic Risk Score in Bengaluru

Background: Prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing in an alarming way throughout the world. More than 50% of the diabetic subjects in India remain unaware of their diabetes status and screening for risk factors of diabetes mellitus enable us to initiate appropriate control measures. This study was undertaken to identify the people who are at risk of diabetes mellitus in rural area of Bengaluru.Methods: It was a community based cross sectional study in which 1750 study subjects were randomly selected using multi stage random sampling method. Selected individuals were examined and interviewed using a semi structured questionnaire. Indian diabetic risk score was used to assess risk of developing diabetes. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0.Results: According to IDRS, 46.2% of respondents were in the moderate risk group and 33.1% were in the high risk group. Family history of diabetes, low physical activity and abdominal obesity were found to associate with high risk group.Conclusions: The prevalence of high risk for diabetes according to IRDS was 33%. Primordial and primary preventive actions are very much necessary.