An outline of diabetes mellitus and its treatment by traditional chinese medicine and acupuncture

Diabetes Mellitus (DM), with its rapid growth rate, is becoming an alarming threat to human health, especially in developing countries such as China, India, Indonesia and Russia. Even though western medicine can contribute to the control and treatment of DM, it is generally unable to cure it. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can build up the diabetic patients' resistance to disease, strengthen immunity and promote metabolism. Therefore there are advantages in combining TCM with western medicine in the treatment of DM. This article reviews the history of DM diagnosis by TCM, as well as the pathogenesis of DM from the viewpoints of both western and Chinese medicine. TCM treatment (both herbal medicine and acupuncture) is also reviewed, and treatment methods and formulas are suggested for different patterns of disharmony. TCM diagnoses and treats disease based on an integrative analysis and differentiation of signs and symptoms, including the cause and nature of the illness, as well as the patient's physical and emotional condition. It can therefore act as a well-tried protocol for the long-term recuperation of diabetic patients.