Chinese medicine may hold promise for diabetes treatment

A new study shows that using Chinese medicine along with an anti-diabetic drug can provide promising results in patients with diabetes.

Researchers at the University of Queensland are even going so far as to say that conventional drugs for the disease may be more effective when paired with traditional Chinese medicine.

The study

The study included a controlled trial of 800 type-2 diabetic adults. The patients either received just the anti-diabetic drug Glibenclamide or a combination of the drug and Chinese medicinal herbs.

Patients in the latter group were more than a third less likely to experience hypoglycemia than the patients who had only taken the drug.

“They were also less likely to experience other symptoms of diabetes, including fatigue, hunger, and palpitation,” says Sanjoy Paul, Director of the Queensland Clinical Trials and Biostatistics Center in UQ's School of Population Health.


Are Chinese herbs the answer?

Paul notes that traditional Chinese medicine has been used to treat diabetes around the world for decades, but only recently has it become accepted in mainstream healthcare systems, mostly due to research confirming the safety of the practice.

The study is the largest clinical trial to date on the efficacy of Chinese medicine as a method of blood sugar control in diabetes patients. Paul argues that while more studies are needed on the subject, the current findings suggest that Chinese medicine may be a viable option for countries where diabetes is at "epidemic proportions."

“A vast majority of people in developing countries depend on herbal medicine for basic health care," Paul said. "The findings of this study may improve the safe delivery of effective health care to people who may otherwise be unable to access treatment.”


The study is published in the journal PLOS One.

Source: Futurity.org, University of Queensland


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...