DIABETES is caused by the deficiency of insulin secretion which leads to the disturbance of the sugar metabolism in the body. When the body cannot assimilate sugar normally, it is retained in the blood, showing an increase in blood sugar. When the amount of blood sugar exceeds the kidney threshold, glucose will be discharged in the urine.

When sugar is discharged from the kidneys, it brings with it much liquid, increasing the amount of urine and at the same time raising the patient's demand for water. Since much glucose is lost and sugar in the body cannot be fully consumed, the patient easily feels hungry. He tires easily and becomes emaciated.

Diabetes can be contracted by children and old people, those over 40 more frequently than children under ten. Generally more office workers than laborers and more city residents than rural people are likely to have it. If parents are diabetics, their children in many cases also contract it, for the disease is hereditary.

Traditional Chinese medicine acknowledged the disease as early as 200 B. C. when the Yellow Emperor's Manual of Internal Medicine was written, in which the symptoms of diabetes were recorded. Traditional Chinese medicine considers the cause of diabetes as too much fat and sugar, which results in an increase of inner heat. It is also caused by anger, sadness and other irritants which are turned into internal fire that burns up yin liquid in the lungs, stomach and spleen.

The first step to treating any diabetic is the control of the diet. The key is to limit the intake of carbohydrates, grain and sugar. Minor cases can generally recover through diet control. Even serious cases can be stabilized this way. Unrestricted eating will worsen the condition. Diet control is a must.

I. Diet

Diabetics must strictly control their sugar intake. They should eat none or little of such foods as desserts, fruit juice and potatoes (starch). When they do eat these, they must cut down on their main food grain as an exchange. The usual amount of main food per day is 200 to 250 grams for those who do not work, 250 to 300 grams for light manual laborers, 300 to 400 grams for average laborer, and 400 grams or more for heavy laborers. Extremely bitter, cold or hot food should be avoided.

Because of metabolic disturbance, the decomposition of protein is faster and much is lost. Therefore diabetics should eat more protein-rich foods such as milk, eggs, fish, lean meat and bean products. Generally one kilogram of weight needs 1 to 1.5 grams of protein. For average patients the total intake of fat is 50 to 60 grams a day. But overweight patients cannot take more than 40 grams per day. To help prevent arteriosclerosis, diabetics should use vegetable oil and limit food that contain high cholesterol. They should eat little roe, brains, yolk, fat and animal internal organs. Because they eat less grain, their intake of vitamin Bl becomes less and they should eat foods that contain this vitamin to make up for it. Otherwise they might get disease of the nervous system. Fresh fruit and vegetables are also good for them. A small amount of honey taken on a regular basis can help lower the blood sugar.

The process of recovery through diet control is slow. Practitioners should keep the patient steady with it.

II. Herbal Medicines

Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for diabetes are based on the degrees of the three main symptoms and the distinction of kidney weakness from lung fire and stomach heat.

For all patients, the diet should be light. Sweet, heavy, hot or other pungent food and alcohol are forbidden. Proper diet is usually accompanied by herbal medicine in all cases of diabetes.

1. Prescription for Cases with Upper-Body Symptoms

Symptoms: The mouth is dry and the tongue feels hot. The tongue is yellow coated and red at the edge and tip. The pulse is strong and fast, and the patient drinks and urinates much more than normal. Treatment should help bring fever down, moisten the lungs, promote the secretion of saliva and slake thirst.

Prescription 1: Chinese Trichosanthes (Trichosanthes kirilowii)
Roots and Chinese Yam Gruel

Wash 15 grams of Chinese trichosanthes roots, 10 grams of Chinese yam, and 30 grams of rice. Put in a pot and add three bowls of cold water. Boil for 20 minutes and then add a teaspoon of honey.
Dose: One bowlful twice a day for two months.

Prescription 2: Five-juice Drink

Mix proper amount of fresh reed rhizome, peeled pear, peeled water chestnuts, fresh lotus root and fresh tuber of dwarf lilyturf. Drain the juice and drink it cold or hot. No limit.

Prescription 3: Pear Juice

Slice a big juicy pear. Soak the slices in cold water for 12 hours. Drink the water frequently.

2. Prescriptions for Cases with Middle-Body Symptoms
Symptoms: The patient eats a lot, gets hungry and thirsty easily and becomes emaciated. Bowel movements are hard and dry, and urination is frequent. Pulse is thready but strong. Treatment should be aimed at moistening the stomach, smoothing bowel movements, building up the yin, and protecting body fluid.

Prescription 1: Clam and Balsam Pear Soup Use 250 grams of balsam pear and 100 grams of live clams (the clams should have been soaked in fresh water two days) to make a soup. Flavors can be added as desired. Consume all.

Research reports show that balsam pear is of cool and cold nature and tastes bitter-sweet. It can lower the amount of blood sugar, relieve thirst and internal heat and fever, and reduce irritability. Clams taste sweet and salty and are of cold nature. It can relieve thirst and internal heat and fever, build up the yin and smooth the flow of urine. The two combined are especially good for cases with strong symptoms of stomach fever and yin weakness.

Prescription 2: Kudzu Vine Root, Chinese Dates and Mung Bean Soup

Soak ten Chinese dates in warm water for a half hour. Put the dates and 30 grams of clean kudzu vine roots in an earthenware pot. Add two and a half bowls of water. Boil down for a half hour. Keep dates and juice only in the pot. Add 50 grams of mung beans and simmer for 40 minutes.

Dose: One bowlful twice a day. The soup cannot be kept over night.

Prescription 3: The Root of Membranous Milk Vetch (Astragalus membranaceus) and Chinese Yam Soup

Boil down 30 grams of the roots and 30 grams of Chinese yam. Drink it as tea.
It is reported that the roots of membranous milk vetch control sugar in the body. Noted doctor of Chinese medicine Zhu Chenyu considers that because roots of membranous milk vetch invigorate the stomach, promote vital energy and yang, while Chinese yam can promote vital energy and yin and strengthen the kidneys, when they are combined they promote vital energy and the secretion of body fluid, build up the spleen and kidneys, lower sugar in the urine, relieve emissions, preserve the essence of the diet, and turn sugar in urine negative.

3. Prescriptions for Cases with Lower-Body Symptoms

Symptoms: The patient urinates a lot and the urine is thick and turbid, and in some cases sweet. The mouth is dry, producing little saliva, and the tongue is red. The pulse is thin and fast. Treatment helps reinforce body fluid, nourish the blood, and strengthen the kidneys.

Prescription 1: Stew of Chinese Wolf berry and Rabbit

Use 15 grams of Chinese wolfberry and 250 grams of rabbit meat to make a stew. Eat the meat and drink the juice.

The fruit of the Chinese wolfberry can lower blood sugar and rabbit meat can relieve thirst and the need to urinate. The two combined can invigorate the liver and kidneys, build up the spleen and relieve thirst. It is especially good for diabetics with strong symptoms of weakness of liver and kidneys.

Prescription 2: Pigskin Soup

Boil 500 grams of pigskin until it is tender. Remove the skin and add 30 grams of honey and 250 grams of rice flour. Boil slowly until done. Drink it three times a day for two days.
This prescription is adopted from Shanghan Lun ( Treaties on Fevers), originally used for deficiency of the yin, and diarrhea caused by it, sore throat and the bloating of the chest. It is used for diabetes because of its function in reinforcing body fluid and nourishing the blood.

Prescription 3: Sparrow and Medicine Gruel

Slowly boil down 30 grams of dodder seeds and 30 grams of Chinese wolfberry in an earthenware pot. Keep the liquid. Stir-fry five cleaned sparrows in cooking wine. Boil the cooked sparrows and 100 grams of rice in the juice. When it is about done, add salt, ginger and the white of a green Chinese onion. Drink the gruel.