Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing β cells of the pancreas. As a result, the body produces little to no insulin, making it difficult to regulate blood glucose levels.
Type 1 diabetes can shorten a person’s life span by as much as a decade (although the gap is narrowing due to modern advancements). This is due to complications that can arise as a result of diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, retinopathy, and muscle wasting.
Scientists in China are researching the complementary effects of TCM alongside modern treatments to address not just type 1 diabetes but also its associated complications. Although more research is needed, studies have yielded promising results.
Here are five studies exploring how Traditional Chinese Medicine is being utilized alongside modern treatments:
The first study is a review article describing the history of Chinese medicine and its perspectives on type 1 diabetes. It explains how certain herbal formulas had varying effects depending on which aspects of type 1 diabetes needed treatment. It also discusses how acupuncture could treat complications of diabetes, such as neuropathy. Reported findings included increased insulin production while lowering glucose levels, with few adverse effects. Nevertheless, the need for more conclusive research was emphasized.
The second study discusses how TCM has the potential to reduce the likelihood of diabetic ketoacidosis in people with type 1 diabetes. Two groups were monitored: 1608 non-TCM users and 416 TCM users. The results showed that TCM users had a 33% overall risk reduction and a 40% reduction among 106 long-term users. Although the results were promising, more research is needed.
The third article is a review article that discusses how autoimmune aspects of type 1 diabetes may be connected to gut microbiota regulation. Under normal circumstances, the gut microbiota supports adequate digestion and balance. When these microbiota become unbalanced, they can cause lipids to be inadequately processed, leading to immune system issues. As type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, the article proposes a possible link. For someone who already has type 1 diabetes, one potential treatment is to add medicinal herbs to food to help rebalance the gut microbiota and the immune system. Although a successful study with mice was conducted, more research is still needed.
The fourth article is a literature review examining the association between regulatory T cells (Tregs) and type 1 diabetes, as well as how TCM may modulate them. If Tregs express the protein FoxP3, they help suppress immune responses. If the number or function of Tregs decreases in the body, it can lead to autoimmune conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, as well as associated complications, including neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease. However, TCM herbal formulas may help to delay disease progression and alleviate complications of type 1 diabetes. Reported findings include improved glucose levels, improved TREG homeostasis, and delayed destruction of pancreatic β cells. Nevertheless, more research is needed.
The fifth article investigates muscle wasting and muscle fiber transformation in rats and how TCM treatment affects these outcomes. After 8 weeks, both groups of rats were weighed (one group with TCM, the other without). The rats without TCM lost weight after the experiment, whereas those with TCM maintained their weight and muscle function. Although TCM may be effective for reversing and preventing muscle wasting, more studies are needed to determine whether similar effects occur in humans.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Supplementary Approach to Treating Type 1 Diabetes
For centuries, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used to treat ailments by viewing the body as an interconnected whole rather than focusing only on symptoms. In China, where TCM is used alongside conventional treatments, this same philosophy applies to type 1 diabetes treatment.
Tags: glucose, herbal, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Type 1 diabetes
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Referenced Research Publications
Research Progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Adjuvant Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is one of the most common chronic metabolic diseases in the world. Insulin replacement therapy and drug adjuvant therapy are the main means of modern medical treatment of T1DM; still, there are adverse reactions such as drug resistance, which seriously hinder the therapeutic effect. As a unique medical method in China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a significant effect on the treatment of T1DM. TCM therapy can reduce the symptoms of T1DM, prevent complications, improve insulin resistance, and promote insulin secretion. In recent years, the research field of TCM in the treatment of T1DM has made considerable progress. The research on the treatment of T1DM by Chinese herbal medicine, TCM prescription, acupuncture, and moxibustion shows good anti-T1DM effect and significantly improves the survival rate of patients. This article aims to summarize the methods of TCM in the treatment of T1DM, expounds on the mechanism of action in the treatment of T1DM, and discusses the limitations and opportunities of TCM in the treatment of T1DM.
Reference
Luo, J., Hu, F., Jia, Z., Zhu, X., Zhou, Y., Hu, C., Yu, L., & Chen, Z. (2025). Research Progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Adjuvant Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 39(12), 5567–5603. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8514
Integrative traditional Chinese medicine therapy reduces the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Life-long insulin is the standard treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in T1DM is still not clear. The aim of this study is to explore the prescription pattern of TCM and its impact on the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in patients with T1DM.
Materials and methods
We retrieved samples from the registry for catastrophic illness patients from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Based on a frequency (1:4) matched case-control design, patients with T1DM in 2000–2011 were designated as cases (TCM users) and controls (non-TCM users). TCM treatment for patients with T1DM was analyzed. The incidence of DKA and the annual costs of emergency visits and hospitalizations were evaluated for all causes.
Results
Overall, 416 subjects were TCM users, whereas a total of 1608 matched subjects were classified as non-TCM users. The most common Chinese herbal formula and single herb is Liu-wei-di-huang-wan (Six-ingredient pill of Rehmannia) and Huang-qi (Radix Astragali; Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Bunge) P.K.Hsiao), respectively. Compared with non-TCM users, we found a 33% reduction in DKA incidence for all TCM users (aHR 0.67, 95% CI 0.56–0.81, p <0.000) and a 40% reduction for users receiving TCM treatment for more than 180 days (aHR 0.58, 95% CI 0.41–0.82, p <0.01). There were no significant differences between TCM users and non-users in the frequency and medical costs of emergency visits and hospitalizations.
Conclusions
Integrative TCM use may reduce the risk of DKA in patients with T1DM. Our results suggest that TCM may have a substantial positive impact on the management of TIDM.
Reference
Lien, A. S., Jiang, Y. D., Mou, C. H., Sun, M. F., Gau, B. S., & Yen, H. R. (2016). Integrative traditional Chinese medicine therapy reduces the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 191, 324–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.06.051
Research progress in the treatment of an immune system disease—type 1 diabetes—by regulating the intestinal flora with Chinese medicine and food homologous drugs
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a specific autoimmune disease related to genetic and autoimmune factors. Recent studies have found that the intestinal flora is one of the important environmental factors in the development of T1D. The gut microbiota is the largest microbiota in the human body and has a significant impact on material and energy metabolism. Related studies have found that the intestinal floras of T1D patients are unbalanced. Compared with normal patients, the abundance of beneficial bacteria is reduced, and various pathogenic bacteria are significantly increased, affecting the occurrence and development of diabetes. Medicinal and food homologous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a multicomponent, multitarget, and biphasic regulatory effect. Its chemical composition can increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria, improve the diversity of the intestinal flora, reduce blood sugar, and achieve the purpose of preventing and treating T1D by regulating the intestinal flora and its metabolites. Therefore, based on a review of T1D, intestinal flora, and TCM derived from medicine and food, this review describes the relationship between T1D and the intestinal flora, as well as the research progress of TCM interventions for T1D through regulation of the intestinal flora. Medicine and food homologous TCM has certain advantages in treating diabetes and regulating the intestinal flora. It can be seen that there is still great research space and broad development prospects for the treatment of diabetes by regulating the intestinal flora with drug and food homologous TCM.
Reference
Ping, Y., Liu, J., Wang, H., Wang, Y., Qiu, H., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Research progress in the treatment of an immune system disease-type 1 diabetes-by regulating the intestinal flora with Chinese medicine and food homologous drugs. Bioscience of microbiota, food and health, 43(3), 150–161. https://doi.org/10.12938/bmfh.2023-068
Role of Treg cells in diabetes mellitus and association with traditional Chinese medicine: a literature review
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for immune tolerance, and their dysfunction is implicated in diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications. This review examines the role of Tregs in type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1DM, T2DM) and the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in modulating Treg responses. Tregs contribute to β-cell autoimmunity in T1DM, inflammation and insulin resistance in T2DM, and complications such as nephropathy and vasculopathy. Recent studies show that TCM-derived compounds, including polysaccharides, flavonoids, and alkaloids, enhance Treg function, restore Treg/Th17 balance, and improve immune homeostasis. Tregs are a key link between immune regulation and metabolic dysfunction. TCM offers promising strategies for Treg-targeted immunomodulation, supporting integrative approaches to the prevention and treatment of DM and related immune disorders.
Reference
Liu, W., Liu, R., Wu, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2026). Role of Treg cells in diabetes mellitus and association with traditional Chinese medicine: a literature review. Frontiers in immunology, 17, 1763798. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1763798
Puerarin ameliorates skeletal muscle wasting and fiber type transformation in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic rats
Abstract
Puerarin is an isoflavonoid extracted from Pueraria lobate with extensive pharmacological effects in traditional Chinese medicine. The evidence implicates that puerarin mitigates hyperglycemia and various relevant complications. Here, the effect of puerarin on skeletal muscle wasting induced by type 1 diabetes (T1D) was explored. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T1D male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used in this study. Muscle strength, weight and size were measured. L6 rat skeletal muscle cells were applied for in vitro study. Our results showed that eight-week oral puerarin administration (100 mg/kg) increased muscle strengths and weights accompanied by enhanced skeletal muscle cross-sectional areas in diabetic rats. Simultaneously, puerarin also reduced expressions of several muscle wasting marker genes including F-box only protein 32 (Atrogin-1) and muscle-specific RING-finger 1 (Murf-1) in diabetic group both in vitro and in vivo. Transformation from type I fibers (slow muscle) to type II fibers (fast muscle) were also observed under puerarin administration in diabetic rats. Puerarin promoted Akt/mTOR while inhibited LC3/p62 signaling pathway in skeletal muscle cells. In conclusion, our study showed that puerarin mitigated skeletal muscle wasting in T1D rats and closely related with Akt/mTOR activation and autophagy inhibition. Whether this effect in murine applies to humans remains to be determined.
Reference
Lin Yin, Xi Chen, Na Li, Weihua Jia, Nuoqi Wang, Biyu Hou, Haiguang Yang, Li Zhang, Guifen Qiang, Xiuying Yang, Guanhua Du, Puerarin ameliorates skeletal muscle wasting and fiber type transformation in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic rats, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 133, 2021, 110977, ISSN 0753-3322, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110977
