The role of central nervous system on hypoglycemia and the feasibility of the brain theory in traditional Chinese medicine on treatment of diabetes mellitus.
The central nervous system (CNS) plays a key regulatory role in glucose homeostasis. In particular, the brain is important in initiating and coordinating protective counterregulatory responses when blood glucose levels fall. This may due to the metabolic dependency of the CNS on glucose, and protection of food supply to the brain. In healthy subjects, blood glucose is normally maintained within a relatively narrow range. Hypoglycemia in diabetic patients can increase the risk of complications, such as heart disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The clinical research finds that the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a positive effect on the treatment of hypoglycemia. Here the authors reviewed the current understanding of sensing and counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia, and discuss combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine and the theory of iatrogenic hypoglycemia in diabetes treatment. Furthermore, the authors clarify the feasibility of treating hypoglycemia on the basis of TCM theory and CNS and have an insight on its clinical practice.
Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Shanghai 201399, China.
Hai-li
HL
Jiang
Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Shanghai 201399, China.
Jing-jing
JJ
Niu
Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Wei-fei
WF
Zhang
Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Wen-jin
WJ
Huang
Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Ming-yue
MY
Zhou
Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Wen-jun
WJ
Sha
Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Jun-yan
JY
Li
Basic Medical Department, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Fu-feng
FF
Li
Department of Gerontology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Ting
T
Zhu
Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai 200120, China.
Xin
X
Xia
Department of Police Training, Shanghai Police College, Shanghai 200137, China.
Jun
J
Zhang
Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Yuan-dong
YD
Shen
Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Shanghai 201399, China; E-mail:ligang.zhou@gmail.com.
Li-gang
LG
Zhou
D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional
D006728:Hormones