당뇨약 비복용 초기 제2형 당뇨병 환자에서 한약과 저탄수화물 식단 병행의 체중 감량 및 혈당 개선 효과: 후향적 연구

Effect of Herbal Medicine Combined with a Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Weight Loss and Glycemic Control in Drug-Naive Patients with Early-Stage Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Study

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of herbal medicine combined with a low-carbohydrate diet on weight reduction and glycemic control in drug-naive patients with early-stage type 2 diabetes. Methods: Twenty-nine drug-naive patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (glycated hemoglobin A, HbA1c≥6.5%) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients received herbal medicine formulations consisting of multiple herbs, including Ephedra (Ma Huang) and Lonicera japonica Thunb., combined with a low-carbohydrate diet (≤50 g/day carbohydrates) for at least 3 months. Results: Significant reductions were observed in body weight (from 90.58 kg to 82.07 kg) and body mass index (BMI) (from 33.32 kg/m² to 30.20 kg/m²). HbA1c levels significantly improved from 7.60% to 5.94%, with 89.66% of patients achieving HbA1c levels ≤6.5%. Additionally, liver enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase, as well as both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, showed significant improvement. Adverse events reported were mild and included constipation, insomnia, and indigestion; no severe adverse effects or discontinuation of treatment occurred. Conclusions: Herbal medicine combined with a low-carbohydrate diet effectively reduces body weight, BMI, and HbA1c levels, and improves liver enzymes and blood pressure, suggesting a beneficial role in managing obesity and diabetes without significant safety concerns. Further controlled, prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.