KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) — Shenzhen Hengsheng Hospital in China has announced a major breakthrough in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), revealing that 24 patients have successfully discontinued insulin therapy using a holistic integrative medicine (HIM) approach.
Led by Professor An Chiying and her medical team, this approach combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine, thereby achieving a functional cure, recording the longest duration of insulin discontinuation, reaching 14 months.
The hospital in a statement said this breakthrough offers new hope for global T1DM treatment and marks a remarkable advance in integrated Chinese and Western medicine for autoimmune diseases.
Professor An said functional cure enables partial restoration of islet function sufficient to meet daily metabolic needs.
She noted that early-diagnosed patients with residual islet function with C-peptide over 0.5 nanogrammes per millilitre (ng/ml) are the most likely to benefit.
Meanwhile, Academician Fan Daiming of the Chinese Academy of Engineering called the findings a bold challenge to the long-standing belief that T1DM patients must rely on insulin for life. He praised the HIM model as a promising new paradigm in autoimmune disease care.
Over a two-year clinical observation period, the team has applied the HIM model, blending traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), orthomolecular medicine, functional medicine, and lifestyle medicine, as well as precision digital health monitoring, to 70 T1DM patients. Of those, 24 patients (34 per cent) achieved a functional cure, maintaining stable blood glucose levels without reliance on exogenous insulin.
The protocol uses precision diagnostics, artificial intelligence-driven monitoring, immune regulation, and metabolic repair strategies. Patients typically undergo a short three- to five-day hospital stay before continuing outpatient follow-up and dietary management.
Globally, there are approximately nine million affected by T1DM and rising healthcare costs. The widespread adoption of HIM health management programmes could significantly reduce the financial and health burdens on patients.
— BERNAMA