TYPE II DIABETIC PATIENTS

USE OF CAMEL MILK IN KARACHI: A CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of camel milk users as a dietary adjunct
therapy in Diabetes Type 2. Study Design. A cross sectional questionnaire based survey. Period:
May to August 2013. Setting: Liaquat National Hospital & Jinnah Medical College Hospital)
and one public sector hospital (Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre) in Karachi. Methods:
Minimum sample size using 11.1% prevalence of type II diabetes mellitus, confidence interval of
95% and 5% margin of error and finite population correction for large population was calculated
to be 152. Using purposive sampling, type II diabetes patients (taking oral hypoglycemic
medication or insulin to control serum blood glucose) visiting outpatient departments for
diabetes management at two private and one public sector hospital in Karachi, were requested
to participate. After obtaining informed consent, a structured pre-coded questionnaire was filled
by trained interviewer. Two laboratory assessed fasting blood (FBG) readings from previous
three months were also recorded from their files. Those who affirmed the use of camel milk were
asked further questions on reasons and consumption pattern. All responses were entered into
SPSS version 17.0 and descriptive frequencies and statistics were obtained for camel milk users
and non-users. Results: 300 patients consented to participate and filled the questionnaire. 36
forms did not have two FBG lab reports from previous three months and were excluded. In
the remaining sample size of n = 264, camel milk use frequency was 35.98% (n=95). In the
preceding three months, the median FBG of users was 121.0 mg/dl as compared to median
FBS of non-users (64.01%;n = 169) of 202.06 mg/dl. 90.5% (n=86) of all users considered oral
medications as main modality for control and only 15.8% of these patients attributed blood
glucose control solely to use of camel milk. Camel milk users were found to use more of home
remedies (13.7%, n = 13), homeopathic medicine (15.8%, n = 15) and exercise (45.3%, n=43)
as adjunct modalities to control their blood glucose as compared to 6.5%, 8.9% and 31.4%
of non-users. 71.6% (n= 121) of non- users used dietary modification to manage diabetes
as compared to 47.4% (n = 45) users. 71% (n = 121) non-users were regularly measuring
their blood glucose levels as compared to 56.8% (n=54) users of camel milk. Conclusions:
Diabetics drinking camel milk showed a marked decrease in mean Fasting Blood Sugar values
as compared to non-users. More experimental studies should be conducted on a larger scale
and on different regions so as to ascertain the biological plausibility.