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| Theme | Data source | Participants’ Key message | Participants’ remark |
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| Influence and source of information on the use of traditional medicines for managing diabetes | FGDs | Conventional medicines are costly
Traditional medicines are readily available and accessible
Choice of medicine type influenced by friends, TV and radio advertisements, traditional medicine vendors/herbalists | If possible, medicines for diabetes should be provided for free, because some patients do not seek treatment due to a lack of money.
Community-based counseling can raise awareness of diabetes and knowledge regarding its management. |
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| Effectiveness of traditional medicines and conventional medicines | IDIs | The effectiveness of any medicine depends on the duration of the disease. | Any type of drug performs better in the early stages of the disease. |
| Traditional medicines do not work as fast as conventional medicines. | Traditional medicines have a gradual effect and people should complete their course of treatment. |
| FGDs | Traditional medicines help in the management of complications of diabetes | Traditional medicines help to manage high blood pressure, eye and kidney diseases, joint pains, and to heal wounds, among others. |
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| Challenges and side effects associated with the use of traditional medicines | FGDs | Traditional medicines, if not used appropriately can have adverse effects such as diarrhea, fatigue, extreme decrease blood sugar level, and can sometimes lead to death | It is preferable for diabetes to be treated in hospitals using controlled doses of conventional medicines. |
| Traditional medicines have varying effectiveness |
| It is not clear how much traditional medicine to take, or how long to take it for. | Research should be done in order to determine the most effective dose |
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| Recommendations/ suggestions | FGDs and IDIs | The government should recognize, certify and support the use of traditional medicines | To follow-up with the traditional medicine vendors/herbalists |
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