Patient-Reported Outcomes Following the Use of Jiang Tang San Huang Tablets in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Chinese Population

Figures & data

Table 1 Composition of the Jiang Tang San Huang Tablet

Latin Name	Chinese Name	Dosage
Prunus persica (L.) Batsch	Taoren	9–12 g
Ramulus Cinnamomi	Guizhi	6–12 g
Radix et Rhizoma Rhei	Dahuang	6–12 g
Thenardite	Xuanmingfen	3–6 g
Astragali Radix	Huangqi	30 g
Rehmannia glutinosa	Dihuang	12–15 g
Ophiopogon japonicus	Maidong	12 g
Scrophulariae Radix	Xuanshen	12–15 g
Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma	Gancao	3–6 g

Table 2 Questionnaire Items for the Treatment of T2DM with JTSH Tablet

Purpose of visit	Cure diabetes; Continue treating diabetes, improve self-discomfort symptoms, or reduce the side effects of Western hypoglycemic medicine.
Reason for choosing CHM	Believe that Chinese medicine can cure the root cause; Friends recommend CHM because of its curative effects; CHM has few side effects; Willing to try various methods.
Efficacy satisfaction score (1–100 points)	The hypoglycemic effect of traditional Chinese medicine is very satisfactory (score ≥ 80); CHM has a specific hypoglycemic effect; however, the onset is slow; it also regulates the body” (score ≥ 60); Chinese medicine is ineffective in lowering blood glucose (score < 60).
Current hypoglycemic regimen(s) and efficacy	(1) Insulin; (2)Western medicine; (3)CHM containing JTSH tablet; The efficacy on glucose control: fasting and 2-hour postprandial blood sugar status.
Advantages	The anti-diabetic efficacy of CHM is satisfactory; The CHM regulates the body; It is safe and has no side effects.
Disadvantages	The hypoglycemic effect is not as good as that of Western medicine (slow or unstable); It is difficult to prepare the medicine; It is expensive; (4) The taste of CHM is horrible.
Western medicine evaluation	Efficacy Side effects.
Diet & Exercise	Self-management of diet and exercise.

Abbreviations: JTSH tablet, Jiang Tang San Huang tablet; CHM, Chinese herbal medicine; T2DM, Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Figure 1 Flowchart of this study.

Abbreviations: T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; JTSH tablets, Jiang Tang San Huang tablets.

Table 3 The Distribution of Clinical Conditions of JTSH Tablet Users

	N (%)/Mean ± SD
N	147
Age(years)	53.58 ± 13.21
Sex
Male	69 (46.7%)
Female	78 (55.10%)
Weight(kg)	62.96 ± 12.19
BMI (kg/m^2)	23.26 ± 3.68
Diabetes course(year)	7.90 ± 6.87
JTSH tablet(year)	2.57±1.45
Past medical history (N)
Hypertension	25
Coronary heart Disease	8
Dyslipidemia	20

Note: Continuous variables reported as the mean ± SD.

Abbreviations: JTSH tablets, Jiang Tang San Huang tablets; BMI, body mass index.

Figure 2 Representations of the results of the questionnaire items. (A) Satisfaction of 147 patients’ with JTSH tablets treatment for T2DM. (B) The hypoglycemic regimens administered to the enrolled patients. (C) Evaluation of the advantages of JTSH tablets for treating of T2DM by lowering blood sugar or improving symptoms in 147 patients. (D) A total of 147 patients evaluated the disadvantages of JTSH tablets for the treatment of T2DM. (E) Evaluation of the hypoglycemic effect of antidiabetic drugs in 147 patients. (F) Evaluation of diet and exercise done well or not of 147 patients.

Abbreviations: JTSH tablets, Jiang Tang San Huang tablets; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Figure 3 Hypoglycemic effect and islet protection effect of Jiang Tang San Huang tablets (JTSH tablets) in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. (A) Changes in glycosylated haemoglobin levels before and after treatment with JTSH tablet in 68 patients. (B) Changes in 2-hour postprandial blood glucose levels before and after treatment with JTSH tablets in 57 patients. (C) Changes in glycosylated haemoglobin levels before and after treatment with JTSH tablet in 43 patients. (D) Changes in HOMA-IR levels before and after treatment with JTSH tablet in 37 patients. (E) Changes in HOMA-β levels before and after treatment with JTSH tablet in 43 patients.

Notes: P-values are calculated comparing post-treatment with JTSH tablets and the baseline values. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.

Abbreviations: 2HPG, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin; HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of the insulin resistance index; HOMA-β, homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function.

Table 4 Logistic Regression Between JTSH Tablet Administration and Glycaemic Control

	Univariate Logistic Model		Multivariate Logistic Model I		Multivariate logistic Model II
	RR (95% CI)	P	RR (95% CI)	P	RR (95% CI)	P
Age	0.995 (0.962, 1.025)	0.349	0.99454 (0.996,1.030)	0.758
Sex	0.587 (0.210, 1.063)	0.064	0.7093 (0.260, 1.528)	0.307
BMI	0.993 (0.860, 1.086)	0.453	0.9571 (0.838, 1.054)	0.287
Diet and exercise	2.756 (1.477, 26.598)	0.022*	2.3531 (1.249, 25.269)	0.024*	2.662 (1.285, 24.004)	0.030*
CHM	0.816 (0.574, 0.992)	0.040*	0.855 (0.595,1.089)	0.160	0.830 (0.578, 1.021)	0.066

Note: *P < 0.05.

Abbreviations: JTSH tablet, Jiang Tang San Huang tablet; BMI, body mass index; CHM, Chinese herbal medicine; RR, relative risk; CI, confidence interval.