Five Branches Diabetes Prevention and Treatment Center

Five Branches University, in cooperation with the Zhejiang Xinhua Integrated Medicine Diabetes Center, will host the grand opening of the Diabetes Prevention and Treatment Center in August, 2008.

The Zhejiang Xinhua Integrated Medicine Diabetes Center is a hospital affiliated with Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (ZCMU), a renowned medical institute in Hangzhou, China (capital city of Zhejiang province) located near Shanghai. ZCMU has three directly-affiliated and seven non-directly affiliated hospitals and 54 other hospitals which provide healthcare, research, and medical education. The university has 10,000 students and over 1200 faculty, including a number of distinguished professors, renowned TCM doctors, and leading researchers in their respective departments of Chinese and Western medicine. Five Branches University has maintained a sister-school relationship with the Zhejiang Chinese Medical University for the past 14 years.

The History of TCM and Diabetes

How Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Help with Diabetes Prevention and the Treatment of Diabetes Already In Existence

Pre-Diabetes Stage















































A pre-diabetic stage typically precedes the development of type II diabetes. IFG (Impaired Fasting Glucose) and IGT (Impaired Glucose Tolerance) measures are associated with a substantially increased risk of developing diabetes, with the highest risk in people with combined IFG and IGT. Life style interventions, including dietetic suggestions, weight loss and exercise, are highly effective in preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes in people with IGT. Research shows these changes can reduce the risk of progressing to diabetes by 30 to 50%. It is of special significance that Chinese medicine, especially acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicinals, can effectively treat diabetes and in some cases, even cure it. Chinese medicine is highly recommended and effective at this early stage.

Obesity poses a serious health risk contributing to the increased likelihood of a host of other diseases including type II diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension.

Peripheral insulin resistance, which is often associated with obesity, is one of the earlies detectable symptoms in individuals at risk of type II diabetes. Acupuncture has proven to be very

\















effective at regulating metabolism and helping with weight loss. Chinese medicinal herbs, formulated for the specific pattern differentiation of the patient, are also effective in regulating blood sugar, controlling blood pressure and reducing cholesterol.

For Patients Currently Diagnosed with Diabetes

For patients already with diabetes, research studies have confirmed that adding Chinese medicine to Western medicine protocols are effective in protecting the liver and kidney from damage caused by prolonged use of Western medication. The Chinese herbs reduce or eliminate drug side effects, and allow for a reduction in medication intake dosages. Adding TCM to a diabetic treatment plan may help prevent complications and slow or stop the progression of the disease.

For Patients with Diabetic Complications















Diabetic complications can be classified broadly as either microvascular or macrovascular.















Microvascular complications include neuropathy (nerve damage), nephropathy (kidney disease)















and vision disorders (e.g. retinopathy, glaucoma, cataract and corneal disease). Macrovascular















complications include heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease which can lead to ulcers, gangrene and amputation. Other complications of diabetes include infections, metabolic difficulties, impotence, autonomic neuropathy and pregnancy problems. Some of these complications are life threatening. TCM has shown to effectively prevent the worsening of these conditions, and sometimes improves the condition. Many research papers show that using Chinese herbs can greatly















improve microvascular circulation. This greatly reduces the amputation rate, improves neuropathy conditions, and improves vision.

For more information about the Five Branches University Diabetes Center, please contact us at 408-260-8868 or 1-877-838-6789.