Clear, practical TCM guide to Diabetes (Xiao Ke 消渴) — explained simply, but with depth.
Note: This is educational, not medical advice. Diabetes can be serious. Always continue medical treatment and use TCM as support, not a replacement.
How TCM Understands Diabetes
In TCM, diabetes is usually linked to:
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Lung dryness → excessive thirst
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Stomach heat → excessive hunger
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Kidney Yin deficiency → excessive urination + fatigue
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Later stage → Qi deficiency + Dampness + Blood stasis
Modern diabetes also strongly relates to:
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Spleen weakness
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Damp-heat
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Phlegm accumulation
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Kidney Yin deficiency
Core TCM Treatment Principles
1️⃣ Clear internal heat
2️⃣ Nourish Yin and body fluids
3️⃣ Strengthen spleen and digestion
4️⃣ Support kidney energy
5️⃣ Remove dampness and stagnation
Diet According to TCM
❌ Avoid / Reduce
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Iced drinks (damage spleen)
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Sugary foods / sugary drinks
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Fried, greasy foods → create dampness
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Too much bread/noodles/white rice
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Excessive cold raw foods (weakens digestion)
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Alcohol (damages liver & sugar control)
✅ Eat More Of
🍲 Warm, nourishing foods
🌿 Best Foods in TCM View
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Bitter gourd (excellent for sugar)
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Barley
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Pumpkin
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Black beans
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Chinese yam (山药 Shan Yao)
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Goji berries
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Lotus seeds
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Brown rice / millet / quinoa
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Pear (for dryness thirst type)
Powerful TCM Herbal Support
(Use with guidance; not all herbs suit everyone)
⭐ Commonly Used
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Shan Yao (Chinese Yam) – strengthens spleen + kidney, stabilizes sugar
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Huang Qi (Astragalus) – boosts Qi, helps fatigue
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Goji Berry (Gou Qi Zi) – nourishes kidney & eyes
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Dendrobium (Shi Hu) – nourishes Yin, relieves thirst
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Rehmannia (Sheng Di / Shu Di) – kidney Yin nourishment
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Bitter Melon Extract – regulates sugar
If there is excess thirst + heat
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Chrysanthemum
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Dendrobium tea
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Mulberry leaf
If there is obesity / dampness
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Barley
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Poria (Fu Ling)
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Chen Pi (tangerine peel)
⚠️ Avoid random herb mixing
Herbs must match your body type. Wrong herbs may worsen blood sugar.
Symptoms & TCM Matching
🔥 If always thirsty + heat in body
Likely Lung & Stomach heat
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Cooling foods
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Avoid spicy & fried
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Chrysanthemum + Goji tea
😴 If tired, heavy body, weight gain, bloated
Likely Spleen Dampness
🦵 Numbness / nerve pain / slow healing
Likely blood stasis
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Improve circulation
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Gentle walking
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Warm foods
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Acupuncture helps a lot
👀 Blurred eyesight
Linked to Liver & Kidney deficiency
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Goji berries
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Dendrobium
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Rest eyes
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Control sugar strictly
Acupressure Points (Safe Self-Help)
Massage 1–2 minutes each daily
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ST36 (Zusanli) – improves energy + digestion
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SP6 – regulates spleen & blood
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KI3 – supports kidney
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LI4 – improves circulation
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Yongquan (KI1) – calms nervous system
Lifestyle (Very Important in TCM)
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Sleep before 11pm (protects kidney Yin)
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Gentle daily walking
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Avoid stress (stress damages liver → sugar spikes)
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Maintain stable eating times
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Lose weight if overweight
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Avoid overeating
TCM & Western Medicine Together
Best results = balance both:
Never stop medication without doctor approval.