Diabetes with Heart Disease

Diabetes complicated by heart disease refers to lesions of the cardiovascular system that occur as complications of or in association with diabetes. These may affect the large, medium-sized, small, and microvascular vessels of the heart. They include nonspecific coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (coronary heart disease), cardiomyopathy associated with microvascular disease, and arrhythmias and cardiac dysfunction due to cardiac autonomic nervous system dysfunction. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these conditions fall within the categories of “palpitations,” “chest impediment and heart pain,” and “true heart pain,” among others.

TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference

| Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Chest oppression and dull pain that comes and goes; palpitations and shortness of breath; fatigue and lack of energy; shortness of breath and reluctance to speak; spontaneous sweating and night sweats; dry mouth and desire to drink; a tongue that is somewhat red or pale and dusky, with little coating; and a deficient, rapid, or fine, weak pulse, or an intermittent pulse.

In plain language:

  • A feeling of tightness in the chest with a dull, intermittent ache.
  • Palpitations and shortness of breath, with breathing that feels difficult.
  • Fatigue and a tendency to feel weak.
  • Shortness of breath and little desire to speak.
  • Easy or frequent sweating.
  • Easily occurring night sweats.
  • Dry mouth and a desire to drink water.
  • The tongue may appear reddish or pale and dusky.
  • The tongue coating is scant.
  • The pulse may feel deficient and rapid, fine and weak, or intermittently irregular.

| Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Tonify qi and nourish yin; invigorate blood and open the channels.

In plain language:

  • Support qi and nourish yin fluids, with the aim of restoring strength and balance.
  • Promote blood flow and help unblock the channels and collaterals.

| Related Products

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

| Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Stabbing heart pain radiating to the shoulder, back, and inner arm; chest oppression and palpitations; a purplish-dark tongue; and a fine, choppy pulse or an intermittent pulse.

In plain language:

  • Sharp, stabbing pain in the chest, with intense, piercing pain during an episode.
  • The pain may radiate to the shoulder and back and the inner side of the arm, with a noticeable spreading or pulling sensation.
  • A feeling of tightness and discomfort in the chest accompanied by palpitations, which may affect breathing.
  • The tongue appears purplish and dusky, lacking a fresh, healthy color.
  • The pulse feels fine and uneven, or has intermittent pauses and irregular beats.

| Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Invigorate blood and transform stasis; open the channels and collaterals to relieve pain.

In plain language:

  • Promote blood flow and help resolve blood stasis.
  • Help unblock the channels and collaterals to ease pain.

| Related Products

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

| Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Dizziness and tinnitus; palpitations and shortness of breath; profuse sweating; aversion to cold and cold extremities; in severe cases, fainting; a pale tongue with a thin white coating or a coating as usual; and a weak or intermittent pulse.

In plain language:

  • Frequent dizziness or vertigo, accompanied by ringing in the ears.
  • Palpitations and shortness of breath, with breathing that feels difficult.
  • Noticeably increased sweating, with profuse sweating during activity or even while sitting still.
  • Marked sensitivity to cold, with hands and feet that remain cold and are slow to warm up.
  • In severe episodes, sudden fainting with a brief loss of consciousness.
  • The tongue appears pale or whitish, with a generally washed-out color.
  • The tongue coating is often thin and white, though it may also appear much as usual.
  • The pulse feels weak or unstable, or intermittently pauses and beats irregularly.

| Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Nourish yin and tonify yang; resolve stasis and free the vessels.

In plain language:

  • Nourish yin fluids and support yang qi to promote a better sense of balance and energy.
  • Help resolve blood stasis and promote the free flow of blood through the vessels.

| Related Products

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

| Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Shortness of breath; cough with thin, white sputum; waking at night gasping for breath or being unable to lie flat while sleeping; palpitations that worsen with exertion; aversion to cold; cold extremities; aching lower back; reduced urination; a pale or bluish-purple complexion; generalized edema; a pale, enlarged tongue with a white, slippery coating; and a deep, fine pulse or an intermittent pulse.

In plain language:

  • Rapid or difficult breathing and a feeling of not getting enough air; even mild activity may cause marked breathlessness.
  • Coughing and bringing up thin, white sputum that is watery rather than sticky.
  • Waking suddenly at night feeling short of breath.
  • Difficulty lying flat at night; propping up the upper body may make breathing more comfortable.
  • Palpitations or a noticeable pounding heartbeat.
  • Symptoms may worsen with movement; climbing stairs or walking a short distance may make the discomfort worse.
  • Marked sensitivity to cold, with discomfort even in mildly cool conditions.
  • Cold hands and feet that do not feel warm to the touch.
  • Aching or weakness in the lower back, with increased fatigue after standing or walking for a long time.
  • Reduced urination, with a noticeable decrease in urine output.
  • A pale complexion, which may appear bluish or purplish in severe cases.
  • Swelling throughout the body, with a sensation of puffiness or tightness.
  • The tongue appears pale and swollen or enlarged.
  • The tongue coating appears white and slippery, with a moist surface.
  • The pulse is easier to feel with deeper pressure and may be fine and weak, or intermittently paused and irregular.

| Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Warm yang and promote urination.

In plain language:

  • Warm and support yang qi to help the body feel warmer and more energetic.
  • Promote fluid metabolism and help eliminate excess fluid to reduce swelling.

| Related Products

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

References

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