Curative Effect and Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Diabetic Gastroenteropathy： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Diabetic gastroenteropathy is a serious chronic complication that accompanies the progression of diabetes mellitus， severely impacting patients' quality of life and overall health. Nearly half of diabetic patients experience symptoms such as nausea， vomiting， early satiety， abdominal distension， and abdominal pain， which increases their anxiety and depression， prompting frequent medical visits and further burdening the healthcare system. In-depth research into the pathogenesis of diabetic gastroenteropathy has identified several core mechanisms， including hyperglycemia， autonomic and enteric nervous system dysfunction， abnormal secretion of gastrointestinal hormones， macrophage polarization， brain-gut axis dysregulation， microRNA deficiency， and oxidative stress-induced damage and apoptosis of interstitial cells of Cajal （ICC）. Current clinical treatments mainly rely on prokinetic and antiemetic drugs. However， their notable adverse effects and diminishing efficacy with long-term use remain pressing issues. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， with its unique theoretical framework and extensive practical experience， potent in prescription formulation and acupoint selection guided by holistic concepts and syndrome differentiation， has gradually become an important option for treating diabetic gastroenteropathy. Numerous studies have confirmed that mechanisms include improving gastrointestinal hormone secretion， repairing ICC damage， regulating the nervous system， reducing oxidative stress， and modulating the brain-gut axis. These findings provide new insights into the treatment of diabetic gastroenteropathy. This article summarized the pathogenesis of diabetic gastroenteropathy and reviewed recent research on Chinese medicine and acupuncture-moxibustion therapy in improving gastrointestinal motility for diabetic gastroenteropathy treatment， aiming to offer clinical treatment insights and highlight the need for further research to explore comprehensive and individualized treatment approaches， providing better strategies for managing diabetic gastroenteropathy.