Question
What are the main symptoms?
Answer
The main symptoms of diabetes include dry throat, preference for cold drinks, frequent urination, etc. These symptoms are caused by elevated blood sugar levels and positive urine glucose tests. Diabetes is known as xiao ke zheng in traditional Chinese medicine, characterized by polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, and weight loss, fatigue, sweet-smelling urine. If tested, the main features are high blood sugar and positive urine glucose. The disease affects the lungs, stomach, and kidneys, with pathogenesis involving depletion of body fluids and excessive dry heat. If diabetes is not controlled for a long time, it may lead to yin-yang deficiency, affect the circulation of qi and blood, and damage internal organs, leading to abscesses, carbuncles, dizziness, chest pain, deafness, vision impairment, numbness in limbs, gangrene of the lower limbs, kidney failure with edema, stroke and coma. In traditional Chinese medicine, xiao ke zheng is believed to be caused by lung heat, stomach fire, and kidney deficiency. It is commonly classified into three types: upper xiao ke (lung heat and body fluid depletion), middle xiao ke (stomach fire), and lower xiao ke (kidney deficiency). Treatment varies depending on the type of xiao ke zheng: Upper xiao ke (lung heat and body fluid depletion): characterized by thirst with frequent drinking, dry mouth and tongue, frequent urination. Treatment includes clearing heat and moistening the lung, replenishing body fluids and stopping thirst. Commonly used herbs include tangerine peel (with honey), baical skullcap root (washed with vinegar), rehmannia root (with honey), and codonopsis pilosula. Middle xiao ke (stomach fire): characterized by excessive hunger despite eating much food and thin body shape with dry stool. Treatment includes clearing stomach fire and nourishing yin to replenish body fluids. Commonly used herbs include rhizoma anemarrhenae (washed with vinegar).