Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Tangshenkang (TSK) in treating diabetes mellitus type II.
　　
　　Methods: The patients were selected based on the Standard of diabetes mellitus of WHO (l985) and Mogensen's standard for diagnosis and staging of diabetic nephropathy. All the patients observed were the out-or in-patients of the authors' hospital from April l995 to April l997. They were 87 males and 53 females, aged 36-72 years, averaging 52.4 ±3.7 years, course of disease of them ranged 5-23 years, averaging 8.6±2.3 years, 53 cases of early stage and 87 of clinical Stage diabetic nephropathy. There were 45 cases complicated with hypertension, 87 with retinopathy, l8 with peripheral neuropathy l2 with diabetic heart diseases and 7 with cerebral infarction. All the patients were divided randomly into the TSK group (n=l00) and the control group (n=40). The two groups were not different significantly in age, sex, and course of disease and complication and were comparable. Basic treatment for diabetes mellitus including education and diet control was applied in both groups. To the TSK group, TSK consisting of Jiaosi Decoction plus Hirudo, Radix et Rhizoma Rheum, Rhizoma Coptis, Fructus Lycii, Fructus Cornus, Rhizoma Dioscorea, Radix Astragalus, Radix Ophiopogon, Radix Panax quinquefolium, Cortex Cinnamomum, Rhizoma Alisma, Herba Leonurus, Stylus et Stigma Zea and Radix Salvia Miltiorrhizae, 9g was given three times daily. To the control group, Glurenorm 30mg-l80mg and Captopril were given per day if there is complication, symptomatic treatment was given in combination. The therapeutic course for all the patients were 30 days and they were observed for 2 courses.

Result: In the 100 cases of the TSK group, there were 30 cases markedly effective, 5l effective, l0 ineffective, and the total effective rate being 90%; in the 40 cases of the control group, 9 markedly effective, l3 effective and l8 ineffective, and the total effective rate 55%. By statistics, the difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). And the effect of the TSK group was better than that of the control group, both to patients of early stage or to those of clinical stage.

Conclusion: TSK is an effective preparation of Chinese herbal medicine in treating diabetic nephropathy.

(By Li Qi, Gao Yang, Liu Li, Ren Zhifang, From Linyi Municipal Hospital of TCM, Shandong Province 276002, China)