Diabetes mellitus is considered one of the major threats to health and well being of human race in the twenty first century. The number of young and middle aged people getting affected with diabetes is alarmingly high. This higher rate of incidence can be attributed to the sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity and unhealthy food habits. Better health care facilities have resulted in long lifespan, age related diseases and complications. People get diagnosed with diabetes and they tend to live long with the associated complications. It is important that the complications do not become fatal to the individual and the diabetic must be allowed to live a near normal life with good glycemic control.Prevention of development of complications must be given prime importance. Skilful and wise administration of insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents; that are widely used in allopathic medicine along with the time tested and trial tested herbal medicines give a lot of hope and promise in this direction. Traditional Chinese medicine gives an array of herbs that can be utilized for the wellbeing of diabetics. Use of herbs may reduce the adverse effects of allopathic drugs, provided; more attention is given to herb- drug interactions and contraindications to treatment with herbs. Healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the use of herbs are of great importance. The medical fraternity as well as the patients must be educated regarding the right approach to diabetes and its control.
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