Research Progress on Synergistic Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy with Chinese and Western Medicine

Abstract

Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is a grave microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, with a multifactorial pathogenesis involving metabolic disorders, hemodynamic alterations, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. Conventional Western medicine identifies hyperglycemia, hypertension, and activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) as the fundamental pathological mechanisms. Treatment strategies prioritize blood glucose management (e.g., SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 RA), blood pressure control (ACEI/ARB), and the delay of renal function deterioration. In contrast, Chinese medicine is predicated on the “five-organ rule, “ which posits a connection between fluid metabolism and the dysfunction of the five organs. This approach aims to ameliorate symptoms and mitigate the adverse effects of Western medications by regulating the balance of yin and yang in a holistic manner.