Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM) for Diabetes
jknops2
Posts: 171 Member
I have been for the last 10 months in China, so reading some stuff about Chinese Traditional Medicine and other alternative treatments online, all I can say there are a lot of quacks out there. But since I am in China, I decided I might as well try it. I went to the Lanzhou University Chinese Traditional Medicinal Hospital. Visited a doctor specialized in diabetes, so for CTM, this is about as good as it gets.
For background, I am 52, male, take Metformin 2000 mg, Januvia 100 mg and Crestor 10 mg each day, morning glucose between 80-110, BMI 22-23. Diagnosed Type 2, May 2012. I have good control, but I eat very low carb.
Chinese Traditional Hospital visit.
1. No appointments or referrals. You just go to the hospital, sit and wait until the specialist sees you.
2. Swipe ID card is used for all billing, doctor and test records and pharmacy orders. An integrated online computer system, they are way ahead of the US.
3. No privacy. Open office door, other doctors, nurses, patients, relatives, come in and listen to what is going on.
4. The hospital smells like the spice area of Whole Foods.
The doctor asked for medication that I am taking, looked at my glucose readings, took my pulse on both hands and checked my tongue. Gave me a prescription for 16 different herbs that I should take twice a day for 7 days. Then come back and he will adjust the herb mixture. And I should check my tongue, it is too white and thick, should get redder and thinner.
Total fee, $1 for the ID card, $5 for 7 day medicine supply, doctor $0. There are some big advantages to the socialist, or in this case communist, health care system.
But after 1 week, no differences in glucose readings that I can detect.
The second visit, I got 13 herbs, once daily, mostly different from the first 16. Second visit, total cost $8 for 14 day medicine supply.
Again, no significant difference in glucose reading. I do have the impression that, sometimes after drinking it, the next glucose reading is 10-20 point lower, but the two readings after that seem higher. But looking at all the glucose readings, nothing significant that I can see. Either way, any effect is not consistent, and since I am not eating or exercising exactly the same, it is hard to really detect an effect.
In total, clear is, at best, a small and unpredictable effect of Chinese Traditional Medicine. And CTM taste really bad, very bitter. So, stick with the regular medication, nothing to gain by adding CTM.
Cheers, Jean.
For background, I am 52, male, take Metformin 2000 mg, Januvia 100 mg and Crestor 10 mg each day, morning glucose between 80-110, BMI 22-23. Diagnosed Type 2, May 2012. I have good control, but I eat very low carb.
Chinese Traditional Hospital visit.
1. No appointments or referrals. You just go to the hospital, sit and wait until the specialist sees you.
2. Swipe ID card is used for all billing, doctor and test records and pharmacy orders. An integrated online computer system, they are way ahead of the US.
3. No privacy. Open office door, other doctors, nurses, patients, relatives, come in and listen to what is going on.
4. The hospital smells like the spice area of Whole Foods.
The doctor asked for medication that I am taking, looked at my glucose readings, took my pulse on both hands and checked my tongue. Gave me a prescription for 16 different herbs that I should take twice a day for 7 days. Then come back and he will adjust the herb mixture. And I should check my tongue, it is too white and thick, should get redder and thinner.
Total fee, $1 for the ID card, $5 for 7 day medicine supply, doctor $0. There are some big advantages to the socialist, or in this case communist, health care system.
But after 1 week, no differences in glucose readings that I can detect.
The second visit, I got 13 herbs, once daily, mostly different from the first 16. Second visit, total cost $8 for 14 day medicine supply.
Again, no significant difference in glucose reading. I do have the impression that, sometimes after drinking it, the next glucose reading is 10-20 point lower, but the two readings after that seem higher. But looking at all the glucose readings, nothing significant that I can see. Either way, any effect is not consistent, and since I am not eating or exercising exactly the same, it is hard to really detect an effect.
In total, clear is, at best, a small and unpredictable effect of Chinese Traditional Medicine. And CTM taste really bad, very bitter. So, stick with the regular medication, nothing to gain by adding CTM.
Cheers, Jean.
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Replies
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Thank you for sharing! I know nothing about Chinese Traditional Medicine so it was very interesting to read about your experiences.0
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since you are there have you tried acupuncture? When I saw a TCM practitioner it took 3-6 weeks to see effects. Combination of herbs, accupuncture and diet.0
