Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3): 706-714.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.03.010
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Clinical characteristics of adolescents and young adults with type 2 diabetes and Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies: a single-center experience in China from 2011 to 2023
WU Jing1, WANG Le1, GUO Xiangyu1, GAO Kuo2(
), LIU Jinmin3()
- 1
Department of Endocrinology ,Dongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Beijing 100071, China
2School of Traditional Chinese Medicine ,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Beijing 100029, China
3Department of Neurosurgery ,Dongzhimen Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Beijing 100010, China
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Received:2025-01-12Accepted:2025-06-30Online:2026-06-15Published:2026-06-08 -
Contact:GAO Kuo, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. gk@bucm.edu.cn;
LIU Jinmin, Department of Neurosurgery, Dongzhimen Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100010, China. jmvip@vip.163.com, Telephone: +86-10-67689769 -
Supported by:Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities: Study on the Mechanism of Chaibei Zhixian Decoction in Treating Refractory Epilepsy through the Nitric Oxide Synthase- Reactive Oxygen Species-Ferroptosis Pathway(2025-JYB-XJSJJ041)
Cite this article
WU Jing, WANG Le, GUO Xiangyu, GAO Kuo, LIU Jinmin. Clinical characteristics of adolescents and young adults with type 2 diabetes and Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies: a single-center experience in China from 2011 to 2023[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026, 46(3): 706-714.
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Table 1 Basic information of patients with T2DMY vs T2DME
| Variable | Outpatient | Inpatient | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2DMY (n = 405) | T2DME (n = 405) | Z value | P value | T2DMY (n = 570) | T2DME (n = 570) | Z value | P value | ||
| Male sex (n) | 260 | 260 | - | - | 428 | 428 | - | - | |
| Age (years) | 36 (33, 39) | 62 (54, 69) | －24.651 | < 0.001 | 35 (32, 38) | 63 (56, 72) | －29.243 | < 0.001 | |
| Duration of diabetes (months) | 36 (8.5, 60) | 84 (24, 120) | －4.164 | < 0.001 | 24 (3, 60) | 132 (60, 240) | －18.342 | < 0.001 | |
Table 1 Basic information of patients with T2DMY vs T2DME
| Variable | Outpatient | Inpatient | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2DMY (n = 405) | T2DME (n = 405) | Z value | P value | T2DMY (n = 570) | T2DME (n = 570) | Z value | P value | ||
| Male sex (n) | 260 | 260 | - | - | 428 | 428 | - | - | |
| Age (years) | 36 (33, 39) | 62 (54, 69) | －24.651 | < 0.001 | 35 (32, 38) | 63 (56, 72) | －29.243 | < 0.001 | |
| Duration of diabetes (months) | 36 (8.5, 60) | 84 (24, 120) | －4.164 | < 0.001 | 24 (3, 60) | 132 (60, 240) | －18.342 | < 0.001 | |
Table 2 Clinical characteristics of patients with T2DMY vs T2DME
| Variable | T2DMY (n = 570) | T2DME (n = 570) | Z/χ 2 value | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family history [positive, n (%)] | 150 (26.32) | 89 (15.61) | 19.699 | < 0.001 |
| Smoking history [positive, n (%)] | 293 (51.40) | 292 (51.23) | 0.004 | 0.953 |
| Drinking history [positive, n (%)] | 190 (33.33) | 216 (37.89) | 2.586 | 0.108 |
| BMI | 28.00 (25.10, 30.79) | 25.30 (23.41, 27.75) | -0.6782 | <0.001 |
Table 2 Clinical characteristics of patients with T2DMY vs T2DME
| Variable | T2DMY (n = 570) | T2DME (n = 570) | Z/χ 2 value | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family history [positive, n (%)] | 150 (26.32) | 89 (15.61) | 19.699 | < 0.001 |
| Smoking history [positive, n (%)] | 293 (51.40) | 292 (51.23) | 0.004 | 0.953 |
| Drinking history [positive, n (%)] | 190 (33.33) | 216 (37.89) | 2.586 | 0.108 |
| BMI | 28.00 (25.10, 30.79) | 25.30 (23.41, 27.75) | -0.6782 | <0.001 |
Table 3 Risk factors of T2DMY
| Risk factor | P value | OR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| Family history | 0.002 | 0.423 (0.247, 0.724) |
| Smoking | 0.967 | 0.989 (0.593, 1.650) |
| Drinking | 0.398 | 1.258 (0.739, 2.144) |
| BMI | < 0.001 | 0.880 (0.832, 0.931) |
Table 3 Risk factors of T2DMY
| Risk factor | P value | OR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| Family history | 0.002 | 0.423 (0.247, 0.724) |
| Smoking | 0.967 | 0.989 (0.593, 1.650) |
| Drinking | 0.398 | 1.258 (0.739, 2.144) |
| BMI | < 0.001 | 0.880 (0.832, 0.931) |
Table 4 Laboratory examination indicators for T2DMY and T2DME patients
| Clinical index | T2DMY (n = 975) | T2DME (n = 975) | Unadjusted P value | Adjusted P valuea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HbA1c (%) | 9.9 (8.1, 11.4) | 8.2 (7.1, 9.8) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| FINS (uIU/mL) | 9.76 (4.90, 15.98) | 7.97 (4.40, 13.09) | 0.004 | 0.057 |
| TC (mmol/L) | 4.72 (3.93, 5.42) | 3.90 (3.21, 4.80) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| TG (mmol/L) | 2.01 (1.41, 3.37) | 1.43 (1.00, 1.96) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| HDL-C (mmol/L) | 0.97 (0.82, 1.16) | 1.11 (0.92, 1.33) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| LDL-C (mmol/L) | 3.10 (2.43, 3.82) | 2.57 (1.86, 3.18) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| ALT (U/L) | 25.5 (16.2, 49.38) | 16.45 (11.4, 22.60) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Urea (mmol/L) | 4.50 (3.63, 5.43) | 5.60 (4.30, 7.56) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| cystatin C (mg/L) | 0.82 (0.70, 0.94) | 1.10 (0.93, 1.51) | <0.001 | 0.002 |
| mAlb (mg/L) | 15.37 (7.79, 35.36) | 17.13 (6.95, 60.97) | 0.154 | 0.895 |
| UA (μmol/L) | 354.6 (289.73, 420.70) | 320.65 (259.15, 382.30) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
Table 4 Laboratory examination indicators for T2DMY and T2DME patients
| Clinical index | T2DMY (n = 975) | T2DME (n = 975) | Unadjusted P value | Adjusted P valuea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HbA1c (%) | 9.9 (8.1, 11.4) | 8.2 (7.1, 9.8) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| FINS (uIU/mL) | 9.76 (4.90, 15.98) | 7.97 (4.40, 13.09) | 0.004 | 0.057 |
| TC (mmol/L) | 4.72 (3.93, 5.42) | 3.90 (3.21, 4.80) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| TG (mmol/L) | 2.01 (1.41, 3.37) | 1.43 (1.00, 1.96) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| HDL-C (mmol/L) | 0.97 (0.82, 1.16) | 1.11 (0.92, 1.33) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| LDL-C (mmol/L) | 3.10 (2.43, 3.82) | 2.57 (1.86, 3.18) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| ALT (U/L) | 25.5 (16.2, 49.38) | 16.45 (11.4, 22.60) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Urea (mmol/L) | 4.50 (3.63, 5.43) | 5.60 (4.30, 7.56) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| cystatin C (mg/L) | 0.82 (0.70, 0.94) | 1.10 (0.93, 1.51) | <0.001 | 0.002 |
| mAlb (mg/L) | 15.37 (7.79, 35.36) | 17.13 (6.95, 60.97) | 0.154 | 0.895 |
| UA (μmol/L) | 354.6 (289.73, 420.70) | 320.65 (259.15, 382.30) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
Table 5 Occurrence of diabetes comorbidities and complications in patients with T2DMY and T2DME (n)
| Variable | T2DMY (n = 975) | T2DME (n = 975) | Unadjusted P value | Adjusted P valuea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complication | Diabetic nephropathy | 16 | 36 | 0.005 | 0.452 |
| Diabetic retinopathy | 41 | 43 | 0.823 | 0.018 | |
| Diabetic neuropathy | 45 | 63 | 0.075 | 0.113 | |
| Comorbidity | Hypertension | 131 | 409 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Hyperlipidemia | 177 | 321 | <0.001 | <0.001 | |
| Non-alcoholic fatty liver | 132 | 116 | 0.277 | 0.004 | |
| Gout | 36 | 14 | 0.002 | 0.031 | |
Table 5 Occurrence of diabetes comorbidities and complications in patients with T2DMY and T2DME (n)
| Variable | T2DMY (n = 975) | T2DME (n = 975) | Unadjusted P value | Adjusted P valuea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complication | Diabetic nephropathy | 16 | 36 | 0.005 | 0.452 |
| Diabetic retinopathy | 41 | 43 | 0.823 | 0.018 | |
| Diabetic neuropathy | 45 | 63 | 0.075 | 0.113 | |
| Comorbidity | Hypertension | 131 | 409 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Hyperlipidemia | 177 | 321 | <0.001 | <0.001 | |
| Non-alcoholic fatty liver | 132 | 116 | 0.277 | 0.004 | |
| Gout | 36 | 14 | 0.002 | 0.031 | |
Table 6 Glucose-lowering medications used in patients with T2DMY and T2DME (n)
| Item | Outpatient | Inpatient | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2DMY (n = 405) | T2DME (n = 405) | χ 2 value | P value | T2DMY (n = 570) | T2DME (n = 570) | χ 2 value | P value | ||
| Metformin | 154 | 92 | 22.442 | <0.001 | 307 | 284 | 1.859 | 0.173 | |
| AGis | 53 | 43 | 1.182 | 0.277 | 219 | 305 | 26.121 | <0.001 | |
| Sulfonylureas | 11 | 27 | 7.068 | 0.008 | 29 | 83 | 28.872 | <0.001 | |
| DPP-4is | 39 | 46 | 0.644 | 0.422 | 151 | 179 | 3.344 | 0.067 | |
| Insulin | 64 | 30 | 13.912 | <0.001 | 370 | 430 | 15.088 | <0.001 | |
Table 6 Glucose-lowering medications used in patients with T2DMY and T2DME (n)
| Item | Outpatient | Inpatient | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2DMY (n = 405) | T2DME (n = 405) | χ 2 value | P value | T2DMY (n = 570) | T2DME (n = 570) | χ 2 value | P value | ||
| Metformin | 154 | 92 | 22.442 | <0.001 | 307 | 284 | 1.859 | 0.173 | |
| AGis | 53 | 43 | 1.182 | 0.277 | 219 | 305 | 26.121 | <0.001 | |
| Sulfonylureas | 11 | 27 | 7.068 | 0.008 | 29 | 83 | 28.872 | <0.001 | |
| DPP-4is | 39 | 46 | 0.644 | 0.422 | 151 | 179 | 3.344 | 0.067 | |
| Insulin | 64 | 30 | 13.912 | <0.001 | 370 | 430 | 15.088 | <0.001 | |
Figure 1 Radar map of the meridians of herbs
Figure 1 Radar map of the meridians of herbs
Figure 2 Radar map of the frequency of herbal medicine belonging to the four properties and five flavors attributes A: four properties radar map of herbal medicine; B: five flavors radar map of herbal medicine. T2DMY: type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults patients; T2DME: type 2 diabetes in middle aged and elderly patients.
Figure 2 Radar map of the frequency of herbal medicine belonging to the four properties and five flavors attributes A: four properties radar map of herbal medicine; B: five flavors radar map of herbal medicine. T2DMY: type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults patients; T2DME: type 2 diabetes in middle aged and elderly patients.
Table 7 Proportion of syndrome distribution in different genders (%)
| Syndrome type | T2DMY (n = 975) | T2DME (n = 975) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | ||
| Dual deficiency of Qi and Yin | 45.93 | 42.16 | 40.41 | 40.42 | |
| Phlegm Damp trapped Spleen | 8.28 | 6.97 | 1.16 | 0.70 | |
| Phlegm and blood stasis blocking collaterals | 8.87 | 7.32 | 14.24 | 14.63 | |
| Dampness-heat internal retention | 5.96 | 3.14 | 7.27 | 2.44 | |
| Spleen deficiency with dampness encumbrance | 4.51 | 5.23 | 2.47 | 2.44 | |
| Blood stasis blocking collaterals | 4.36 | 4.18 | 11.63 | 7.67 | |
| Yin deficiency and hyperactivity of fire | 5.38 | 1.74 | 3.49 | 1.39 | |
Table 7 Proportion of syndrome distribution in different genders (%)
| Syndrome type | T2DMY (n = 975) | T2DME (n = 975) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | ||
| Dual deficiency of Qi and Yin | 45.93 | 42.16 | 40.41 | 40.42 | |
| Phlegm Damp trapped Spleen | 8.28 | 6.97 | 1.16 | 0.70 | |
| Phlegm and blood stasis blocking collaterals | 8.87 | 7.32 | 14.24 | 14.63 | |
| Dampness-heat internal retention | 5.96 | 3.14 | 7.27 | 2.44 | |
| Spleen deficiency with dampness encumbrance | 4.51 | 5.23 | 2.47 | 2.44 | |
| Blood stasis blocking collaterals | 4.36 | 4.18 | 11.63 | 7.67 | |
| Yin deficiency and hyperactivity of fire | 5.38 | 1.74 | 3.49 | 1.39 | |
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