🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Traditional Chinese medicine treats diabetes by "lowering blood sugar, regulating lipid levels, reducing weight, and relieving symptoms." Diabetes is known in TCM as "Xiaoke," clinically divided into three stages: early stage called "Pidan" (pre-diabetes); middle stage called "Xiaoke" (diabetic onset phase); late stage called "Xiaodan" (diabetes complication phase). This classification provides clarity and structure. The goal of diabetes treatment is to achieve long, healthy life. Basic measures include balanced diet, moderate exercise, emotional stability, and quitting smoking and alcohol. On this foundation, patients should choose oral or injectable traditional Chinese and Western medicines, acupuncture, massage, etc., based on individual conditions. Here, I offer brief introductions to several commonly used patent medicines based on my 40 years of clinical experience, for reference by diabetic patients.
Yuquan Wan (Jiuzhitang)
【Ingredients】Gegen, Tianhua Fen, Dihuang, Wugan, Maidong, Sheng Gancao.
【Function & Indications】Nourishes yin, generates body fluids, relieves thirst, reduces irritability, tonifies qi and harmonizes the middle energizer.
【Usage & Dosage】5 grams each time, four times daily.
Based on my clinical experience, this medicine improves symptoms in the Pidan and Xiaoke stages of Xiaoke, helps lower blood glucose and regulate lipids. It is suitable for patients presenting dry mouth, excessive thirst, increased appetite with hunger, irritability, insomnia, excessive sweating, fatigue, red tongue, fine pulse. However, it must be noted that relying solely on this pill is insufficient to achieve therapeutic goals. Use with caution in the Xiaodan stage.
Xiaoke Wan
【Ingredients】Gegen, Tianhua Fen, Huangqi, Shengdi, Yumi Xu, Nan Wugan, Shan Yao, Glipizide (Youdiangtang).
【Function & Indications】Tonifies qi, nourishes yin, nourishes kidney and generates body fluids, lowers blood sugar. Used for Pidan and Xiaoke stages of Xiaoke with high blood sugar. Suitable for patients showing symptoms like intense thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite with hunger, weight loss, fatigue—indicative of qi-yin deficiency.
【Usage & Dosage】1–3 times daily, 2–10 pills each time, taken with warm water before meals.
【Specifications】Each 10 pills contain 2.5 mg of Youdiangtang.
【Contraindications】Avoid in advanced Xiaoke stage progressing to Xiaodan, impaired liver/kidney function, or allergy to Youdiangtang.
【Precautions】This medicine has strong hypoglycemic effect and is convenient to use. Start with low dosage, especially for elderly patients, to avoid hypoglycemia.
Kele Ning Capsules
【Ingredients】Huangqi, Huangjing, Shengdi, Taizi Shen, Tianhua Fen.
【Function & Indications】Tonifies qi, nourishes yin, nourishes kidney and generates body fluids. Used for Pidan and Xiaoke stages of Xiaoke. Suitable for patients with fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, dry mouth, excessive sweating, increased appetite with hunger, elevated blood glucose.
【Usage & Dosage】Three times daily, 4 capsules each time; one course lasts 3 months.
【Precautions】Recent studies suggest Tianhua Fen may harm kidneys; long-term use requires regular urine and renal function checks. Avoid in Xiaodan stage.
Jin Qi Jiang Tang Tablets
【Ingredients】Huangqi, Jin Yin Hua.
【Function & Indications】Tonifies qi, clears heat, with mild blood sugar-lowering effect. Used for Xiaoke with qi deficiency and heat, presenting symptoms like dry mouth, excessive thirst, increased appetite with hunger, shortness of breath, fatigue—can serve as auxiliary treatment.
【Usage & Dosage】Take 7–10 tablets before meals, one course lasts 2 months.
Xianling Gubao
【Ingredients】Mainly Epimedium, Chuxuan, Danshen, Zhimu.
【Function & Indications】Tonifies liver and kidney, activates blood circulation, unblocks meridians, strengthens bones and tendons. Used for osteoporosis due to liver-kidney deficiency and blood stasis obstructing meridians. I frequently use this medicine to treat lower back and leg pain caused by osteoporosis in elderly diabetics, achieving good results.
【Usage & Dosage】Oral: preventive dose: twice daily, 1–2 tablets each time. Therapeutic dose: twice daily, 3 tablets each time; one course lasts 4–6 weeks.