Complementary and alternative medicine use among patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus attending a suburban tertiary healthcare centre in Sri Lanka

There was widespread use of CAM by patients with T2DM. Future research with larger and diverse populations is recommended to explore CAM usage in more depth. Controlled trials for commonly used CAM therapies with or without simultaneous use of conventional medications are needed to assess effectiveness, safety and possible drug interactions. There is a need to work towards formally integrating CAM and conventional medicine for improved patient satisfaction while ensuring safety and therapeutic benefits.