Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Supplement Use in People with Diabetes: A Clinician's Guide. Laura Shane-McWhorter

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      Introduction

      Medical journals, the lay press, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have highlighted the ever-increasing number of diabetes cases, now exceeding 20 million in the U.S.¹ Although there are numerous conventional, or allopathic, therapies to treat diabetes, there is also a tremendous interest in emerging therapies, including nontraditional, or complementary and alternative, medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine therapeutic modalities have become increasingly popular, and it is estimated that consumers spent $17.7 billion dollars on oral supplements in 2001.²

      Two distinct definitions of these unique therapies are important for clinicians to differentiate. One is the definition of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the other is the definition of dietary supplements. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has provided a definition of complementary and alternative medicine. NCCAM states that CAM therapies cover a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and treatments. CAM is defined by NCCAM as treatments and health care practices not widely taught in medical schools, not generally used in hospitals, and not usually reimbursed by insurance companies.³ In CAM therapy, the health care practitioner considers the whole person, including not only physical, mental, and emotional characteristics, but also spiritual aspects. Hence the term “holistic” is used to characterize treatment. Some of these therapies are used alone СКАЧАТЬ