消渴病

消渴病相當於西醫的糖尿病。主要表現為多尿、多飲、多食、形體消瘦或尿有甜味。如不及時治療可併發多種病證，例如會破壞微血管，導致視網膜或腎臟病變。若破壞下肢大血管，則導致糖尿病足。

從中醫角度，消渴病與肺、胃、腎三臟關係密切。如肺、胃、腎三臟受燥熱所傷，便會導致身體水液不足，虛火內生而致本病。

肺、胃、腎受燥熱所傷會分別出現不同症狀。因肺燥所致的消渴稱為上消，一般病情較輕，除口乾多飲外，可出現乾咳等肺系症狀。

因胃熱所致的消渴稱為中消，患者會出現大渴，易感飢餓，口乾口臭等症狀，病情較上消為重。

因腎陰虧損所致的消渴病程較長，患者會出現其他身體虛弱的症狀，如腰膝痠輭、耳鳴、倦怠等。

由於消渴病以燥熱為主要病機，因此中醫治療消渴病的主要方法是清熱潤燥，養陰生津，患者平常亦要少食糖份高、煎炸厚味的食物以防損傷陰津，加重病情。

In TCM theory, Diabetes is characterized by a combination of symptoms: excessive eating, excessive drinking, excessive urine, weight loss, or a sweet taste in urine. If not treated properly, diabetes may have various complications since the illness will affect blood vessels: capillaries damaged will cause retina or kidney disease; large vessels damaged will affect lower limbs, causing diabetic foot.

Diabetes is generally attributed to a deficiency of body fluids and the excessive accumulation of dry or heat evils inside the body. The organs affected most are the lung, stomach and kidneys. Treatment of diabetes is to dispel the heat and promote moisture. Patients need to avoid intake of too much sugar or fat.