OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) in treating diabetic foot.

METHODSSixty-three patients were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 33) and the control group (n = 30). Both groups were treated by same baseline treatment with vasodilator, anti-agglutination agents and external treatment, to the treated group, Chinese drugs were given additionally according to the Syndrome Differentiation.

RESULTSIn the treated group, the treatment showed markedly effective in 12 patients, effective in 18 and ineffective in 3, the total effective rate being 90.0%, while in the control group, the corresponding numbers were 9, 14, 7 and 76.7%, comparison between the two groups showed significant difference (chi 2 = 15.8, P < 0.05). The case number of Grade II, III and IV in the treated group reduced, and those recovered to Grade 0 increased, as compared with those in the control group, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). Patients with healing of ulcerative wound and fresh wound granulation in the treated group, as compared with those in the control group, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). Levels of fasting blood glucose and blood glucose 2 hrs after meal were all improved in both groups, which showed significant difference as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of ICWM treatment in treating diabetic foot was better than the treatment of western medicine alone.