Objective: To observe the effect of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Tongfu (YYHT) principle in treating diabetes mellitus type 2 of secondary failure to sulfonylurea agents.
Methods: Forty patients were randomly divided into two groups, based on the unchanged previous treatment of sulfonylurea agents, Chinese decoction prescribed according to YYHT principle was given to the treated group and rosiglitazone was given to the control group. Changes of insulin sensitivity (SI), insulin response to glucose (IRG), insulin sensitive index (ISI), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), endothelin-1 (ET-1), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha(6-keto-PGF1alpha) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were observed.
Results: The total effective rate in the treated group was 71.4%, that on improving peripheral insulin resistance was 76.2%, the two parameters were similar to those in the control group. In the treated group, SI, ISI were significantly improved, and TNF-alpha, ET-1 and TXB2 significantly lowered, but no change of IRR was found.
Conclusion: Application of YYHT principle in treating patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 of secondary failure to sulfonylurea agents could alleviate the peripheral resistance to insulin, inhibit TNF-alpha, and protect the vascular endothelial cells.