A Descriptive Review of the Prevalence and Usage of Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Saudi Diabetic Patients

Table 3

The most used CAM among diabetics in Saudi Arabia, with effectiveness and safety rating being extracted from the “Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database.”

Number	Name	Effectiveness	Safety rating for adults	Safety rating during pregnancy
1	Honey	Insufficient evidence	Likely safe. Honey (from the nectar of Rhododendron) is likely unsafe	Likely safe in food amounts
2	Wet cupping	No information	No information	No information, so avoid
3	Nutritional supplements (vitamins/minerals)
a	Chromium	Possibly effective	Likely safe	Likely safe. Must be prescribed by doctors
b	Magnesium	Possibly effective	Therapeutic doses: likely safe. High doses: possibly unsafe	Therapeutic doses: likely safe. High doses: possibly unsafe
c	Calcium	Insufficient evidence	Therapeutic doses: likely safe. High doses: possibly unsafe	Likely safe
d	Folic acid	Insufficient evidence	Therapeutic doses: likely safe. High doses: possibly unsafe	Likely safe
e	Zinc	Insufficient evidence	Less than 40 mg/day is likely safe. High doses: likely unsafe. Nasal route is possibly unsafe	Therapeutic doses: likely safe. High doses: likely unsafe
f	Vitamin B6	Insufficient evidence	Therapeutic doses: likely safe. Oral high doses: possibly unsafe	Therapeutic doses: likely safe. Oral high doses: unsafe
g	Vitamin C	Insufficient evidence	Therapeutic doses: likely safe. Doses more than 2000 mg/day are possibly unsafe	Therapeutic doses: likely safe. Doses more than 2000 mg/day are possibly unsafe
h	Vitamin D	Insufficient evidence	Therapeutic doses: likely safe. Doses more than 4000 units/day for long periods are possibly unsafe	Therapeutic doses less than 4000 units/day are likely safe. Higher doses are possibly unsafe
i	Vitamin E	Insufficient evidence	Recommended dose which is 22.4 IU/day: likely safe. High doses: possibly unsafe	Recommended dose which is 22.4 U/day is likely safe. Avoid in early pregnancy
j	Vitamin K	Insufficient evidence	Recommended daily dose: likely safe	Recommended daily dose: likely safe
4	Cautery	No information	No information	No information, so avoid
5	Spiritual healing (ruqia)	Insufficient evidence	Safe when used correctly, but it is not an alternative to usual medical care or other therapies	Safe when used correctly
6	Apitherapy (bee products)	Insufficient evidence	Safe if used appropriately. Bee venom must be practiced by licensed healthcare professionals	Unsafe in high doses
7	Massage	Insufficient evidence	Likely safe	Likely safe