Difficulties in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot and Research Progress of Combination of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine

Abstract

A diabetic foot is any disorder directly attributable to peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and/or the sensory neuropathies influencing the diabetic foot; it is a long-term (or “chronic”) complication of diabetes. Generally, it is a permanent (or “chronic”) comorbidity of diabetes. The swallowing of peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease leads to damage to the soft tissue, bone, and joint system of the foot. In addition, diabetic feet are also susceptible to infection, which can lead to lameness and even amputation. The management of the diabetic foot can be both challenging and chronic; it may comprise orthoses, surgery, antibacterial medication, and topical dressings. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a variety of methods for the treatment of diabetic foot with obvious advantages, which can be divided into internal treatment and external treatment of TCM. These treatments include external foot bath, fumigation and washing stains, internal administration of traditional Chinese medicine, syndrome differentiation and staging treatment, empirical prescription, self-made prescription, internal use of proprietary Chinese medicine, massage, acupuncture, and paste powder application, which have significant value in the prevention and treatment of diabetic foot. Some studies have shown that modern medicine combined with herbal therapy can significantly improve the prognosis of diabetic foot. Therefore, this study summarized the difficulties in the therapeutic approaches to diabetic foot and the recent research progress in combining Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot.

A case report of effective treatment of diabetic foot with the integration of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine

“…Given the patient's high lipid levels, we gave her atorvastatin for lipid regulation and plaque stabilization, and aspirin for antiplatelet coagulation as a routine treatment. Western medicine has been shown to have certain efficacy in the treatment of diabetic foot, however, there is increasing evidence that the combination of Chinese and Western medicine is more effective in treating diabetic foot [ 10 ].…”

Development of a core outcome set in the clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine for diabetic foot: A study protocol

“…It causes great pain and economic pressure to the patient, and also brings a heavy burden to the patient’s family, the medical industry and even society ( 4 ). Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a variety of methods for the treatment of diabetic foot with obvious advantages, which can be divided into internal treatment and external treatment of TCM ( 5 ). External treatment of traditional Chinese medicine refers to the treatment of skin (mucous membrane) or from outside the body with drugs, manipulations, or instruments under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine theory.…”

Efficacy and safety of external therapy of TCM for diabetic peripheral vascular disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

“…[10] The external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes acupuncture, massage, and acupoint application, which has a very good effect on DPVD and is safer. [11] According to ancient TCM records, acupuncture, massage, acupoint application, and other treatments can promote blood circulation and improve nerve function. [12,13] Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have confirmed the effectiveness of external TCM therapy in the treatment of DPVD.…”

“…[ 10 ] The external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes acupuncture, massage, and acupoint application, which has a very good effect on DPVD and is safer. [ 11 ]…”