Exploring the effects of “medicinal and food homology” on prediabetes

School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 230012 Heifei, China

^* Corresponding author: 2016120173@jou.edu.cn

Abstract

The prediabetes stage is a necessary phase for most patients to progress to type 2 diabetes and is reversible. It is considered the optimal time for diabetes prevention. Although there is a wide variety of food, they all fall within the categories of five colors, five flavors, and the ability to either warm or cool the body, just like medicines. As the birthplace of the concept of “ medicinal and food homology,” our country should further utilize modern research techniques to develop substances that fall under this concept. This article explores the understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine on the prediabetes stage, the etiology and pathogenesis of prediabetes, as well as the analysis of common patterns in prediabetes. By combining the identified symptoms, people give the appropriate “ medicinal and food homology “ substances according to the “symptoms”, and use diet to rectify and harmonize the symptoms. To summarize the relevant theoretical research and the application research results, this article provides references for the application of “medicinal and food homology” substances in the prevention and treatment of prediabetes, and looks forward to the future development of “medicinal and food homology”.