Complementary and alternative medicine use a number of products and practices which are not presently considered to be part of the mainstream system of healthcare and the main difference between the two is that complementary medicine is designed to be used alongside conventional treatment while alternative medicine is used instead of conventional treatment.

There are many forms of both complimentary and alternative medicine which are believed to produce beneficial effects but there are others forms can be extremely harmful and, in the case of a potentially serious condition such as diabetes, you should not use either without the knowledge of your doctor. Indeed, you should talk to your doctor about any form of complimentary or alternative medicine which you wish to use so that he can advise you of any possible medical consequences of such treatment.

There are a large number of different types of complimentary and alternative therapy for diabetes including:

1. Guided Imagery. Guided imagery is technique which relaxes the mind and body and develops an awareness of, and an ability to deal with, the body's response to pain using peaceful images. This can be particularly useful for diabetes suffering with nerve damage.

2. Acupuncture. Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into different parts of the body and can be used to trigger the release of natural chemical painkillers. It can be especially helpful for diabetes suffering with often painful nerve damage (neuropathy).

3. Magnesium. The exact part played by magnesium in controlling diabetes is poorly understood but it is known that this mineral, which is found in green leaf vegetables, whole grain foods and nuts, plays an important role in many of the body's functions including functions of the nerves, heart, muscles and bones. It also plays a part in the helping the body to handle glucose and low levels of magnesium are often found in people suffering from diabetes.

4. Ginseng. Ginseng has become very popular popularity recently for the treatment of a whole range of different conditions and is sold widely. There is some evidence from studies using American ginseng that it can reduce glucose levels, but this evidence is not strong enough yet to say just how effective it is as a form of therapy. One problem with ginseng is that it comes in a variety of different forms and strengths and nobody really knows just what amount or strength is needed for therapeutic purposes.

Whatever form of complimentary or alternative medicine you would like to try it is important to remember that you treating a serious and potentially life-threatening condition and that you should consult your doctor before trying any form of therapy.