DIABETES AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE - CAUSE FOR CONCERN

'Alternative' medicines are becoming increasingly popular, and in this paper we describe our experience with alternative approaches to ortho dox diabetes management. Four patients with insulin-dependent diabetes , reduced or stopped their insulin in favour of therapeutic approaches including prayer, faith healing, unusual diets, and supplements of vi tamins and trace elements. This resulted in ketoacidosis in three, in one case life-threatening; and weight loss and hyperglycaemia in the o ther. One patient developed serious retinopathy. Additionally, eight o ther types of alternative diabetic treatment are described, not as far as we know associated with such serious complications. These include homeopathy, reflexology, meditation, herbal treatment, 'cellular nutri tion', 'subconscious healing', 'pearl-therapy' (drinking milk in which pearls have been boiled) and 'astrotherapy' (tying pieces of coral ar ound the arm). Diabetes is a chronic incurable disease, for which mode rn treatments remain somewhat unsatisfactory. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that some patients seek alternative treatments with mor e attractive claims. Diabetes health professionals need to be aware of the potential dangers associated with some of these treatments.