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About Diabetes

Diabetes

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Western Medicine View

Diabetes is a condition characterized by chronically raised sugar levels in the blood. Type I (insulin dependent) patients are often diagnosed as a child while the majority of Type II patients are diagnosed beyond 40 years of age.

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Chinese Medicine View

Chinese medicine believes the fundamental underlying cause for diabetes is a deficiency of Kidney Qi due to a range of factors such as a congenital weakness of Kidney Qi, unhealthy diet (excessive intake of fatty and sweet food), uncontrolled alcohol consumption, stress/anxiety, overwork and unrestricted sexual activities.

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Treatment Options

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs. In China, diabetes is treated with a combination of Chinese and western medicine including the use of insulin, with most patients taking Chinese medicine as a complementary treatment, which can be very effective and has few side effects.

Diabetes affects all the major systems in the body, i.e., the respiratory, digestive, circulatory and reproductive, although in individual patients the degree by which each system is affected can be different. The treatment (acupuncture and herbs) therefore is adapted to each patient and changes over time.

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Lifestyle Advice

Although diabetes does not normally affect life expectancy, it can lead to serious complications. Chinese medicine, together with conventional medicine can keep symptoms under control and maintain a good quality of life for the majority of patients. It is therefore imperative that in seeking to complement treatment with Chinese medicine, a patient does not stop taking any regular medication from their GPs or consultants and that the blood glucose levels are closely monitored whilst on a course of treatment.

For personalised advice on diet and lifestyle, please ask the doctor during your consultation. Please be reminded that chinalife offers free health advice. [LINK">

-> Click here to contact us using our 'Online Health Advice' Form

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