Complementary and Alternative Medicine Used for Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: This is a cross-sectional study performed to assess the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in children with T1DM.
Methods: 200 mothers of children with T1DM under observation in Pediatric Endocrinology Polyclinic of a university hospital between September 2014 - September 2015 were interviewed regarding CAM use in their children.
Results: 40.0% of mothers of children with T1DM used CAM to control blood glucose and to support treatment. CAM users often used herbs, mixtures and praying. Those who preferred herbal used black cumin, cinnamon and olive leaves, while those who preferred mixtures used a yoghurt-lemon mixture and mengisu. There was no difference between HbA1c values of children who used CAM and those who did not (P > 0.05). Patient’s sex, family income level, and educational level of mother and father did not affect CAM use (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Children with T1DM often received herbs, mixtures and praying. Nurses should provide diabetic children and their parents with training and counseling about the advantages and hazards of CAM.