Complementary medicine use and its cost in Australians with type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II.

Background: Few studies have examined complementary medicine (CM) use in diabetes. Australian data are inconsistent, limited in scope and have not considered cost.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence, associates and costs of CM in a contemporary Australian urban, community-based cohort of people with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Baseline CM use was determined as part of a detailed assessment in 1543 of 1551 Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II (FDS2) participants with type 2 diabetes (mean age 65.7 years, 51.8% males, median diabetes duration 9.0 years) recruited to the FDS2 between 2008 and 2011 who self-reported medication use including CM defined as non-prescription medicinal products.

Results: A total of 672 FDS2 type 2 participants (43.6%) used at least one type of CM, 92% of which were nutritional supplements (omega-3 fatty acids/fish oil in 24% of CM users followed by calcium in 11%, glucosamine in 10% and others in <10%). Independent associates of CM use included older age, female sex, any mobility problem, and, inversely, Southern European or Indigenous Australian background, lack of English fluency, ex/current smoking status, taking oral glucose-lowering medications and higher HbA . The total annual estimated cost of CM used by FDS2 participants with type 2 diabetes was A$121 640 or A$79 ± 208 per person (range A$0-2993). Extrapolating these data, the 1 million Australians with type 2 diabetes spend A$79 million/year on CM.

Conclusions: CM use in type 2 diabetes is both common and costly. Healthcare professionals should consider discussing safe and cost-effective use of CM with their patients with type 2 diabetes.