Diabetes Patients with Frequent Nighttime Urination Can Use Dietary Therapy
Many diabetic patients suffer from frequent nighttime urination, leading to sleep deprivation, fatigue, reduced appetite, anxiety, irritability, and lethargy. Nocturia is a common symptom among diabetics.
Diabetes causes multiple damages to renal tubules. Studies show functional changes may appear before histological alterations. Thus, nocturia can serve as an early warning sign of kidney damage. Early intervention aligns with TCM's principle of treating disease before it occurs.
Healthy adults excrete about 1.6 liters of urine daily. Normal urinary frequency ratio between day and night is approximately 3–4:1 in youth, 1:1 in middle age, and 1:3 in those over 70. Nocturia is defined as nighttime urine volume exceeding half of total daily output, or a decreased day-night ratio. Mild cases involve 2–3 awakenings; severe cases may exceed 10 times.
To treat nocturia, consider blood-activating agents: intravenous infusion of Kai Shi (prostaglandin E emulsion) 10–20 micrograms daily for 10–14 days per course; or intravenous Dan Shen injection 10–30 ml daily for 10–14 days per course. Long-term use of compound Danshen drop pills or Tongxinluo capsules is also effective. We often mix water buffalo horn powder, Sanqi powder, peach kernel paste, earthworm powder, and raw rhubarb powder in a 5:3:3:3:1 ratio, encapsulated. Take 4 capsules three times daily, long-term use, beneficial in preventing various diabetes complications.
Decoctions also help. We use Su Quan Yin to warm and tonify kidney qi, consolidate the bladder, and stop leakage.
Formula: 9 grams of Curculigo, 9 grams of Epimedium, 30 grams of lotus seed, 30 grams of hawthorn, 9 grams of ginkgo nut, 30 grams of silkworm pupa, 15 grams of placenta, 9 grams of cornus, 9 grams of lotus seed meat, 15 grams of Cistanche, 30 grams of Astragalus, 3–6 grams of ginseng (decoct separately and add).
If accompanied by benign prostatic hyperplasia, add 9 grams of alum, 6 grams of perilla leaf, 6 grams of orange seed, 3 grams of agarwood; if with lower back and knee soreness, add 15 grams of stir-fried eucommia, 15 grams of achyranthes root; if with insomnia, add 30–60 grams of sour jujube seed, 6–9 grams of schisandra; if with irritability and anxiety, add 30 grams of fresh lily, 12 grams of mimosa flower, 15 grams of raw rehmannia, 3 grams of coptis; if urine is clear and long, add 6 grams of prepared aconite, 6 grams of cinnamon twig, 6 grams of deer antler frost; if urine is turbid and foul-smelling, add 9 grams of sophora root, 9 grams of gentian root, 30 grams of poria.
After about two weeks of medication, nocturia significantly reduces. Additionally, dietary therapy can be applied. Use Cordyceps sinensis steeped in water as tea, 6–10 pieces daily, steep several times, chew after drinking. Or use 9 grams each of goji berry, raspberry, mulberry, and hawthorn as tea. Or stew 60 grams of Astragalus and 9 grams of ginkgo nut. Or cook porridge with 50 grams of lotus seed, 15 grams of black sesame, 50 grams of stir-fried coix seed, and 10–20 peeled longans. Cordyceps, goji berry, raspberry, mulberry—all tonify kidney qi to treat root cause; ginkgo nut and lotus seed astringent to stop urination, treating symptoms.