Question
I have had diabetes for nearly twenty years. I am currently undergoing abdominal dialysis at home. One eye has blurred vision due to a replaced lens, and the other eye has not been replaced yet. Due to thrombosis, one side of my body is paralyzed, and one foot has ulcerated, causing unbearable pain. How can the pain be treated or relieved?
Answer
The treatment of diabetes requires a comprehensive approach, including dietary control, exercise, and medication. Medication treatment can only effectively lower blood sugar when based on dietary control and exercise. Otherwise, the effectiveness of medication will be significantly reduced. Some patients do not understand this point and think that they can eat more without consequence after taking medication, or even increase the dosage to compensate for overeating. This is unwise. Such actions are not only detrimental to blood sugar control but may also lead to weight gain, exacerbate insulin resistance, increase the burden on the pancreas, and accelerate the functional failure of pancreatic cells. In terms of diabetes treatment, neither Western medicine nor traditional Chinese medicine can currently cure the disease. Type 2 diabetes is the result of the interaction of various genetic and environmental factors. In terms of single treatment methods, Western medicine often has a more obvious effect than traditional Chinese medicine, but in dealing with complex diseases involving multiple factors, traditional Chinese medicine has a certain role in preventing and treating chronic complications of diabetes. However, in terms of hypoglycemic effects, traditional Chinese medicine is far inferior to Western medicine. I have seen cases where simply using traditional Chinese medicine can effectively control blood sugar levels.