摘要
Insulin resistance (IR) refers to subnormal response to a certain amount of insulin and is the most characteristic phenomenon in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). It is also an element of the pathogenic mechanism shared with obesity, systemic hypertension, abnormal lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis. In recent years, studies on its treatment with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have gradually been carried out and the following is a report of them.
Mechanisms of Diabetic IR in TCM Terms
Action of insulin antagonizing hormones in peripheral tissues is one of the causes of diabetic IR. Cyclic nucleosides cAMP and cGMP, important intracellular messengers, are considered to be the second messenger of insulin, and cAMP is related to the amount of insulin receptors. Early in 1980s, some authors investigated the relationship among the symptoms of diabetes and such hormones and cAMP/cGMP ratio. Although they did not give due attention to IR, their studies provided evidences for differentiation of symptoms and signs in IR typing.
