Diabetes Mellitus, Cognitive Impairment, and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Table 1

A summary of key TCM modalities used of the treatment of diabetes.

TCM modalities	Mechanisms of action	References
Herbal medicine
Radix Astragali	Improved hyperglycemia status, insulin sensitivity, and glucose uptake	[126]
Salvia Miltiorrhiza	Reduce oxidative stress and improved insulin sensitivity index	[127]
	Reduced serum oxLDL and sVCAM-1	[128]
Panax ginseng	Reduced blood glucose and insulin level and inhibited angiogenesis	[129]
	Reduced blood glucose level and improved glucose tolerance	[130]
Semen Coicis	Hypoglycemic effect, no effect on HbA1c level	[131]
Dioscoreae rhizoma	Hypoglycemic effect and improved insulin sensitivity	[132]
Ganoderma lucidum	Reduced serum glucose level and suppressed hepatic PEPCK gene level	[133]
Cinnamomi Cassiae	Increased insulin sensitivity, reduced lipids level, and hypoglycemic effect	[134]
	Antioxidative effect and reduced blood glucose level	[135]
Radix Platycodi	Increased insulin sensitivity and GLUT4 translocation	[136]
Ligusticum chuanxiong	Reduced blood glucose level, improved renal function, and decreased VEGF level	[137]
Gynostemma pentaphyllum	Increase SOD and GSH-px activities and improved glycemic control	[138]
Potentilla chinensis	Antioxidative and antihyperglycemic effects	[139]
Acupuncture
Acupuncture to 6 points (Zhongwan, Tianshu, Qihai, Ganshu, Pishu, and ShenShu)	Reduced blood glucose level, no effect on body weight	[140]
Electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST-36) and Zhongwan (CV-12)	Reduced blood glucose level via stimulation of the cholinergic nerves	[141]
Acupuncture at points GB34 and GB39	Decreased ischemic in brain and neuronal protective effect	[142]
Electroacupuncture at ear points and to body points	Reduced glucose level and increased serum insulin and c-peptide levels	[143]
Taichi
1-hour session twice a week for 12 weeks	Improved glucose control, balance, and neuropathic symptoms	[144]
1.5-hour session three times a week for 12 weeks	Improved health-related quality of life such as physical functioning and body pain	[145]
19 Taichi movements, twice a week for 6 months	Declined fasting glucose and HbA1c level, better quality of life in mental health	[146]
1 hour per day, 5 days a week for 14 weeks	Improved glycemic control and lowered serum TG level	[147]
12 weeks of Taichi exercise programme	Decreased HbA1c level with increased Th1 reaction and blood IL-12 level	[148]