Food related myths and use of alternative medicine in management of type 2 diabetes in northern Tanzania

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is a complicated health condition with multiple causes and ways of management. It is accompanied with various myths that guide people‘s health seeking behavior and they may use alternative medicines and abandoning the physician medicines. This study aimed to investigate on food related myths and use of alternative medicines in management of type 2 diabetes in Northern Tanzania. A cross-sectional analytical mixed methods design was conducted. A total of 168 were interviewed and anthropometric measurements of the patients were assessed. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to determine the mineral contents of traditional medicines. Quantitative data were analyzed by Statistical Product and Services Solution (SPSS Inc.), Nutri-Survey and GenStat software. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Majority of the patients consumed whole fresh milk (81.4%), ground nuts (76.4%), beef (70%), beans (70%) and sunflower oil (80%). Most of them had low intake of dietary calcium (86.3%) and protein (64%). High prevalence of overweight/obese revealed among female, with primary education, aged 41-60 years, selfemployed, married/cohabiting

and from KCMC. Participants reported that carbohydrate rich

diets

cause diabetes, soaking/washing rice removes carbohydrate, traditional medicines treat diabetes, and use of both conventional and traditional medicines increase treatment efficacy. About 67.2% participants were using traditional medicines like soursop leaves, black plum barks, okra pods, moringa leaves and seeds, avocado seeds and lemongrass to manage their diabetes. These medicines contain calcium, magnesium, chromium and zinc as important minerals in diabetes management. Further study is warranted to look for other phytochemicals and their physiological effect.