The Use of Herbs and Indigenous Food Crop Behaviors for Blood Glucose Reduction among Type 2 Diabetic Patients at Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital, Ongkharak Hospital Network, Nakhonnayok Province

Abstract

The purposes of this descriptive research were to study the use of herbs and indigenous food crop behaviors for blood glucose reduction among type 2 diabetic patients in diabetic clinic, subdistrict health promoting hospital, Ongkharak hospital network, Nakhonnayok Province. Subjects were 165 type 2 diabetic patients who were selected using purposive sampling method. The research instrument was the use of herbs and indigenous food crop behaviors questionnaire, with the index of item-objective congruence over .50. The data were collected from November 2013 to January 2014. Statistics used for data analysis included frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

The research results showed that: 1) the majority of the subjects consumed both herb and indigenous food crop (58.79%); 2) the top 5-herb used were laurel clock vine, east indian screw tree, pandanus palm, coscinium usitatum, and kariyat; 3) the top 5-indigenous food crop used were ivy gourd, bitter cucumber, holy basil, balsam apple, and swamp morning glory; and 4) most subjects consumed both herb and indigenous food crop for over 1 year (74.23%) by cooking (72.16%), with the frequency of 1-2 days a week (49.49%). Most of participants had no side effect from using herbs and indigenous food crops (95.88%), and the large source of herbs and indigenous food crop was in a nature (53.61%).

Findings of this study suggest that the accurate knowledge regarding the benefits and side effects of herb and indigenous food crop should be informed. The herb and indigenous food crop for blood glucose reduction cultivation should be supported. In addition, the combination of appropriate use of herb as a complementary therapy and a modern medicine should be provided.