Diabetes in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Understanding different diabetes patterns according to TCM theory

Educational content • Consult qualified practitioners for medical advice

Condition Categories

Diabetes

Condition Categories

Diabetes

TCM Patterns

Formulas

Overview

What causes it 4 TCM patterns documented

How to recognize Symptoms specific to each diabetes pattern

Classical remedies 25 herbal formulas documented

In TCM, diabetes is often associated with Yin Deficiency leading to Empty Heat, a condition where a lack of cooling, nourishing Body Fluids in the body causes symptoms akin to heat. Lung Yin Deficiency and Stomach Yin Deficiency are prime examples, presenting with excessive thirst, dry mouth, and a propensity for hot sensations.

Blood Stagnation and Liver Qi and Yin Deficiency may also contribute to the disease's complexity, reflecting the holistic nature of TCM diagnoses. These patterns highlight the intricate relationships between the body's energetic systems and their role in diabetes.

TCM Patterns for Diabetes

Qi Deficiency

Insufficient vital energy causing fatigue, weakness, poor digestion, and reduced function of organs and protective systems

Causes: Frequent urination, Milky urination, Urinary incontinence, Nocturnal emissions, Absent-mindedness, Forgetfulness, Dizziness, Unsteadiness, Blurred vision, Deafness, Tinnitus, Shortness of breath, Weak voice, Pale complexion, Poor appetite, Loose stools, Belching, Abdominal distension, Lower abdominal pain, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal pain, Feeling of fullness

2 variations documented

Onset Gradual

Location Systemic

Features Fatigue • Weak voice • Shortness of breath • Spontaneous sweating • Poor appetite

Qi Deficiency is a fundamental pattern in Traditional Chinese Medicine where the body's vital energy is insufficient to maintain normal physiological functions, leading to weakness, fatigue, and various organ dysfunctions.

Kidney and Heart Qi Deficiency

How it presents with diabetes

Frequent urination, Milky urination, Urinary incontinence, Nocturnal emissions, Absent-mindedness, Forgetfulness

Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency

How it presents with diabetes

Dizziness, Unsteadiness, Blurred vision, Deafness, Tinnitus, Shortness of breath, Weak voice, Pale complexion, Poor appetite, Loose stools, Belching, Abdominal distension, Lower abdominal pain, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal pain, Feeling of fullness

Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat

Causes: Toothache, Headaches, Loose teeth, Bleeding gums, Irritability, Thirst

1 variation documented

Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat

How it presents with diabetes

Toothache, Headaches, Loose teeth, Bleeding gums, Irritability, Thirst

Yang Deficiency

Insufficient yang qi causing coldness, fatigue, and diminished physiological functions throughout the body

Causes: Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Cold and weak knees, Sensation of cold in the lower back, Feeling of cold, Weak legs, Bright-white complexion, Fatigue, Lassitude, Oedema of legs, Infertility in women, Loose stools, Depression, Impotence, Premature ejaculation, Low sperm count, Decreased libido, Pale and abudant urination, Sore lower back, Constipation

1 variation documented

Onset Gradual

Location Systemic

Features Always cold • Fatigue • Pale face • Prefers warmth • Cold limbs

Yang Deficiency represents a fundamental weakness of the body's yang qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It manifests as an inability to warm the body, transform substances, and maintain normal physiological activities, resulting in various cold-type symptoms and functional decline.

Kidney Yang Deficiency

How it presents with diabetes

Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Cold and weak knees, Sensation of cold in the lower back, Feeling of cold, Weak legs, Bright-white complexion, Fatigue, Lassitude, Oedema of legs, Infertility in women, Loose stools, Depression, Impotence, Premature ejaculation, Low sperm count, Decreased libido, Pale and abudant urination, Sore lower back, Constipation

Yin Deficiency

Depletion of cooling, moistening fluids causing dryness, false heat rising, and restless agitation throughout the body

Causes: Sweating, Back pain, Diminished hearing, Dry mouth and throat at night, Lower back pain, Constipation, Scanty dark urination, Infertility, Premature ejaculation, Tiredness, Lassitude, Depression, Anxiety, Five palm heat, Feeling of heat in the evening, Malar flush, Menopausal hot flushes, Thirst with desire to drink in small sips, Evening anxiety, Dizziness, Numbness in the limbs, Tingling of limbs, Insomnia, Blurred vision, Floaters in eyes, Dry eyes, Diminished night vision, Scanty periods, Amenorrhea, Dull-pale complexion, Muscle weakness, Cramps, Withered and brittle nails, Dry hair, Dry skin, Feeling of aimlessness, Night sweats, Dream disturbed sleep, Afternoon fever, Hot palms and soles, Hoarse voice, Tickly throat, Aversion to speak, Thin chest, No desire to eat, Desire to drink in small sips, Slight feeling of fullness after eating, Tinnitus, Vertical headaches, Occipital headaches, Dry throat, Dry vagina, Dry stools, Nocturnal emissions, Delayed period, Melasma

6 variations documented

Onset Gradual

Location Systemic

Features Night sweats • Dry mouth/throat • Heat in afternoon/evening • Malar flush

Yin Deficiency represents a fundamental pattern in Traditional Chinese Medicine where the body's yin fluids - blood, essence, and body fluids - become depleted, losing their ability to cool, moisten, and anchor the yang energy, resulting in relative hyperactivity of yang and internal heat manifestations.

Kidney Yin Deficiency

How it presents with diabetes

Sweating, Back pain, Diminished hearing, Dry mouth and throat at night, Lower back pain, Constipation, Scanty dark urination, Infertility, Premature ejaculation, Tiredness, Lassitude, Depression, Anxiety, Five palm heat, Feeling of heat in the evening, Malar flush, Menopausal hot flushes, Thirst with desire to drink in small sips, Evening anxiety

Liver Yin Deficiency

How it presents with diabetes

Dizziness, Numbness in the limbs, Tingling of limbs, Insomnia, Blurred vision, Floaters in eyes, Dry eyes, Diminished night vision, Scanty periods, Amenorrhea, Dull-pale complexion, Malar flush, Muscle weakness, Cramps, Withered and brittle nails, Dry hair, Dry skin, Depression, Feeling of aimlessness, Night sweats, Dream disturbed sleep, Afternoon fever, Hot palms and soles, Thirst with desire to drink in small sips

Liver Yin Deficiency

How it presents with diabetes

Lung Yin Deficiency

How it presents with diabetes

Hoarse voice, Tickly throat, Aversion to speak, Thin chest

Stomach Yin Deficiency

How it presents with diabetes

No desire to eat, Desire to drink in small sips, Slight feeling of fullness after eating

Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency

How it presents with diabetes

Dizziness, Tinnitus, Diminished hearing, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headaches, Insomnia, Numbness in the limbs, Tingling of limbs, Dry eyes, Blurred vision, Dry throat, Dry hair, Dry skin, Withered and brittle nails, Dry vagina, Night sweats, Dry stools, Nocturnal emissions, Scanty periods, Amenorrhea, Delayed period, Infertility, Melasma