One hand holds a blood glucose meter pen while a finger of the other hand is prepared to take a blood sample. Sugar cubes can be seen out of focus in the foreground.

Study on the effect of the Xiaoke pill in type 2 diabetes

Linong Ji et al.

February 2013

Diabetes

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Researchers from China and Australia worked on a controlled, double-blind study to investigate the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in combination with glibenclamide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The sample of 800 subjects with inadequate glycemic control was randomly divided into two groups, one receiving glibenclamide and the other receiving the Xiaoke pill, a compound of Chinese herbs containing glibenclamide. In addition, a division was made into a group that had not been pre-treated with medication and a group that had previously been treated with metformin.

The results after 48 weeks were evaluated using the incidence and rate of hypoglycemia, the difference in HbA1c and the proportion of patients with an HbA1c value <6.5%. It was found that the Xiaoke pill led to a significant reduction in the risk of hypoglycemia and improved glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients compared to glibenclamide alone.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Diabetes
Institution: Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
Title: Study on the effect of the Xiaoke pill in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Brief description: Study shows that the Xiaoke pill reduces the risk of hypoglycemia and effectively improves blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes.
Original title: Efficacy and safety of traditional chinese medicine for diabetes: a double-blind, randomised, controlled trial
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23460810/