Integrative traditional Chinese medicine therapy reduces the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Life-long insulin is the standard treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in T1DM is still not clear. The aim of this study is to explore the prescription pattern of TCM and its impact on the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in patients with T1DM. Materials and methods We retrieved samples from the registry for catastrophic illness patients from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Based on a frequency (1:4) matched case-control design, patients with T1DM in 2000–2011 were designated as cases (TCM users) and controls (non-TCM users). TCM treatment for patients with T1DM was analyzed. The incidence of DKA and the annual costs of emergency visits and hospitalizations were evaluated for all causes. Results Overall, 416 subjects were TCM users, whereas a total of 1608 matched subjects were classified as non-TCM users. The most common Chinese herbal formula and single herb is Liu-wei-di-huang-wan (Six-ingredient pill of Rehmannia) and Huang-qi (Radix Astragali; Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Bunge) P.K.Hsiao), respectively. Compared with non-TCM users, we found a 33% reduction in DKA incidence for all TCM users (aHR 0.67, 95% CI 0.56–0.81, p Conclusions Integrative TCM use may reduce the risk of DKA in patients with T1DM. Our results suggest that TCM may have a substantial positive impact on the management of TIDM.