Diabetes Mellitus

 

 

 

"Deficiency and Impairment" ( Xu Sun ) represents the root cause of the onset of diabetes; its core essence lies in the deficiency of the Spleen and Kidney, coupled with an insufficiency of Qi and Yin. The Spleen governs transportation and transformation, serving as the primary source for the generation of Qi and Blood; the Kidney governs the storage of Essence (Jing), serving as the fundamental root of one's congenital constitution.

Factors such as congenital constitutional weakness, dietary indiscretion, and excessive physical or mental exertion can all lead to impairment of Spleen and Stomach function; consequently, the refined nutrients derived from food and water cannot be properly transported and distributed throughout the body, and the Kidney Essence fails to receive adequate nourishment. For instance: individuals with a deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach often experience abdominal distension and loose stools if they overeat; those with a deficiency of Kidney Yin frequently suffer from a dry mouth and throat, as well as soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; and those with a dual deficiency of both Qi and Yin tend to experience fatigue and spontaneous sweating upon the slightest exertion. These are all typical manifestations of Xu Sun (Deficiency and Impairment), and they constitute the core pathogenesis underlying the early stages of diabetes.

 

 

When the Spleen and Kidney are deficient, their functions of transportation and transformation become impaired. Consequently, the vital essences derived from food and water fail to be transformed into Qi and Blood; instead, they accumulate to form Phlegm, Dampness, and Turbidity — this condition is known as Zhuo Zhi (Turbid Stagnation).

Much like a river channel that has become silted up — hindering the smooth flow of water and causing sediment to accumulate — these pathogenic factors of Phlegm, Dampness, and Turbidity stagnate within the body, thereby further obstructing the circulation of Qi.

At this stage, the body typically presents with manifestations such as obesity, a sensation of heaviness in the limbs, chest tightness, abdominal distension, a thick and greasy tongue coating, and a soft, slow pulse.

The Spleen governs the muscles and the four limbs, while the Kidney regulates fluid metabolism; pathogenic Turbidity tends to stagnate most readily in the Jiao (Middle Burner), subsequently disrupting the distribution of body fluids. This leads to elevated blood glucose levels and serves as a key reason why patients with diabetes are frequently accompanied by obesity and dyslipidemia.

 

 

As the ancient saying goes, "Prolonged Turbid Stagnation inevitably leads to Blood Stasis." When pathogenic Phlegm, Dampness, and Turbidity obstruct the circulation of Qi, the impeded flow of Qi causes the movement of Blood to slow down; this gives rise to internally generated Blood Stasis, creating a pathological state characterized by the "intertwining of Turbidity and Stasis."

As the ancients observed, "Chronic illness penetrates the Luo vessels." When diabetes becomes a protracted and unremitting condition, the pathogenic factors of Turbidity and Stasis obstruct the meridians and blood vessels, thereby affecting the entire body.

At this stage, patients may exhibit symptoms such as numbness and pricking pain in the limbs, ecchymoses (bruising) on ​​the skin, blurred vision, a dark-purple tongue body (often with petechiae or ecchymotic spots), and a rough, hesitant pulse.

The obstruction of the meridians and vessels by Blood Stasis impairs the blood supply to the internal organs; this constitutes the core pathological link underlying the development of complications associated with diabetes, such as vascular disease and neuropathy.

 

 

When Blood Stasis Obstruction persists over a prolonged period, the internal organs are deprived of proper nourishment. Furthermore, the accumulated Turbidity and Stasis may transform into pathogenic Heat, which consumes the body's Yin fluids and damages its Yang Qi. Consequently, the functional capacity of the internal organs gradually deteriorates — a condition known as Zang Sun (Organ Impairment). Should the disease continue to progress unabated, leading to a complete collapse of organ function, the condition is then termed Shuai Bai (Organ Failure). During the Zang-sun (Organ Damage) stage, the pathological site may involve the five internal organs (Zang): if the Heart is affected, symptoms include palpitations, chest tightness, chest pain, and shortness of breath; if the Liver is affected, symptoms include dry, gritty eyes and declining vision; if the Kidneys are affected, symptoms include turbid urine, proteinuria, edema, and lower back pain; and if the limbs are affected, symptoms include numbness, flaccidity and atrophy, and chronic ulcers that are difficult to heal.

If the condition progresses to the Shuai-bai (Failure/Collapse) stage, signs of dual deficiency of Yin and Yang, rampant accumulation of water and dampness, and internal retention of turbid toxins may be observed, manifesting as critical symptoms such as oliguria or anuria, nausea and vomiting, and clouded consciousness or lethargy.

The mutual entanglement of turbid toxins and blood stasis — coupled with damage to the internal organs (Zang-fu) — creates a new vicious cycle that further accelerates the progression of the disease.

 

 

The onset and progression of diabetes — ranging from mild to severe — can be categorized into five distinct stages: Xu-sun (Deficiency and Depletion), Zhuo-zhi (Turbidity and Stagnation), Yu-zu (Blood Stasis and Obstruction), Zang-sun (Organ Damage), and Shuai-bai (Failure/Collapse). The core pathological mechanism underlying this progression invariably revolves around three key factors: "Deficiency (Xu), Turbidity (Zhuo), and Stasis (Yu)." Our approach to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment is precisely tailored to these five developmental stages, addressing the condition at its root while simultaneously treating both the root cause (Ben) and the superficial symptoms (Biao).

 

 

Drawing upon extensive clinical research and practical experience, our hospital has formulated a unique protocol for the TCM treatment of diabetes. The core principles of this protocol are "Early Intervention," "Simultaneous Treatment of Root and Branch," and "Multi-dimensional Regulation." Specifically, this approach encompasses three key aspects:

These constitute our hospital’s "Three Uniques" in diabetes treatment: a unique system for syndrome differentiation, unique herbal formula combinations, and unique external therapeutic modalities.

 

 

Addressing deficiency (Bu-xu) constitutes the fundamental cornerstone of diabetes treatment. To this end, we employ a unique herbal formula combination characterized by the principle of "Simultaneous Regulation of the Spleen and Kidneys" and "Dual Tonification of Qi and Yin." For patients with deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach, we employ methods to replenish Qi, strengthen the Spleen, harmonize the Stomach, and dispel dampness, thereby restoring their vital functions of digestion and transportation. For those suffering from Kidney Yin deficiency, we utilize formulas designed to nourish Yin, tonify the Kidney, generate body fluids, and moisten dryness, thereby nurturing the body's innate constitutional foundation. For patients presenting with a dual deficiency of both Qi and Yin, we adopt a comprehensive approach that simultaneously replenishes Qi and nourishes Yin, while addressing the needs of both the Spleen and the Kidney.

Concurrently, we incorporate external therapies — such as moxibustion and acupoint application — to warm and unblock the meridians and bolster the body's vital resistance. Through this synergistic interplay of internal and external treatments, we collectively achieve the objective of replenishing deficiency.

 

 

Resolving turbidity is a pivotal stage in the treatment of diabetes. We employ an integrated internal-and-external therapeutic strategy focused on clearing heat, dispelling dampness, resolving phlegm, and eliminating turbidity.

Internally, we administer specialized herbal formulas designed to clear heat, resolve dampness, dispel phlegm, and eliminate turbidity, thereby directly targeting the superficial manifestations of phlegm-dampness and turbid pathogens. Externally, we apply therapies such as herbal fumigation and acupoint massage to unblock the meridians and facilitate the expulsion of turbid pathogens through the skin.

By simultaneously clearing internally and unblocking externally — a dual-pronged approach — we rapidly dissipate internal turbid stagnation and restore the normal, rhythmic flow of Qi (its ascent, descent, entry, and exit).

 

 

Resolving blood stasis is a core strategy for the prevention and management of diabetic complications. We employ a tiered therapeutic approach focused on invigorating blood circulation, unblocking meridians, resolving stasis, and dispersing nodules.

For mild cases of blood stasis, we utilize methods to nourish and invigorate the blood, gently unblocking the blood vessels. For severe cases involving significant stasis and blockage, we employ formulas designed to resolve deep-seated stasis and forcefully unblock the meridians, thereby breaking down stubborn blockages.

Additionally, we integrate external therapies — such as acupuncture and herbal foot baths — to improve blood circulation in the extremities and alleviate symptoms such as numbness and pain.

Our approach nourishes the blood without causing stagnation and invigorates the blood without causing excessive depletion, thereby achieving the objective of resolving blood stasis without compromising the body's vital constitution.

 

 

Our institution's unique therapeutic system clearly delineates the treatment of diabetes into five indispensable stages: Replenishing Deficiency, Resolving Turbidity, Resolving Blood Stasis, Protecting the Internal Organs, and Consolidating the Foundation.

The treatment of diabetes must strictly adhere to the sequential progression of these five stages, proceeding step-by-step to ensure that both the superficial symptoms (biao) and the underlying root causes (ben) of the disease are addressed.

Any treatment approach that seeks immediate results by skipping these critical stages will inevitably treat only the symptoms while neglecting the root cause — and may even exacerbate the patient's condition. Only by proceeding systematically and applying individualized, syndrome-based treatment can blood glucose be effectively controlled, complications delayed, and the long-term stable management of diabetes achieved.

 

Shijiazhuang Medical College Hospital is one of the best hospitals for diabetes mellitus in China. With abundant experience, we provide high quality diabetes mellitus treatment service and specialist doctors for foreigners and international patients. Contact us for more details.