A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master’s in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and
Technology
Type 2 diabetes is a complicated health condition with multiple causes and ways of
management. It is accompanied with various myths that guide people‘s health seeking
behavior and they may use alternative medicines and abandoning the physician medicines.
This study aimed to investigate on food related myths and use of alternative medicines in
management of type 2 diabetes in Northern Tanzania. A cross-sectional analytical mixed
methods design was conducted. A total of 168 were interviewed and anthropometric
measurements of the patients were assessed. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to
determine the mineral contents of traditional medicines. Quantitative data were analyzed by
Statistical Product and Services Solution (SPSS Inc.), Nutri-Survey and GenStat software.
Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Majority of the patients consumed whole fresh
milk (81.4%), ground nuts (76.4%), beef (70%), beans (70%) and sunflower oil (80%). Most
of them had low intake of dietary calcium (86.3%) and protein (64%). High prevalence of
overweight/obese revealed among female, with primary education, aged 41-60 years, selfemployed,
married/cohabiting
and
from
KCMC.
Participants
reported
that
carbohydrate
rich
diets
cause diabetes, soaking/washing rice removes carbohydrate, traditional medicines treat
diabetes, and use of both conventional and traditional medicines increase treatment efficacy.
About 67.2% participants were using traditional medicines like soursop leaves, black plum
barks, okra pods, moringa leaves and seeds, avocado seeds and lemongrass to manage their
diabetes. These medicines contain calcium, magnesium, chromium and zinc as important
minerals in diabetes management. Further study is warranted to look for other
phytochemicals and their physiological effect.