Objective: To study the effect of integrative Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM) on improvement of the islet beta cell function in treating patients with latent autoimmune diabetes mellitus in adults (LADA).
Methods: Eighty-four patients of LADA were randomly divided into 3 groups (20 in A, 33 in B and 31 in C), they were treated respectively with sulfonylurea, insulin and combination of insulin and Chinese medicine. The changes before and after treatment in blood glucose, glycohemoglobin and islet beta cell function were observed.
Results: After treatment, the damaged islet beta cell function in Group A was not improved, the secrete peak value of C-peptide was still low and delayed in Group A, but in Group B and C, it shifted earlier, suggesting that a certain degree of improvement and recovery of islet beta cell function. The improving effect in Group C was better.
Conclusion: Chinese herbal medicine had effect in lowering blood glucose and improving islet beta cell function in patients with diabetes mellitus, and showed a synergistic and enhancing action when combined use with insulin. Early treatment of insulin or combination of insulin and Chinese medicine should be applied to patients with LADA.