1. Herbal Treatment:
Herbal medicine treatment for diabetes focuses on creating formulas that treat the underlying Zang Fu Patterns of Disharmony in the Triple Burners, while treating symptoms as well.

Lung Heat: Formulas employ herbs such as Sheng Di Huang (Radix rehmannia Recens) and Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis) to nourish Yin, clear Heat, and relieve thirst.

Stomach Fire: Formulas use herbs such as Shi Gao (gypsum) and Zhi Mu (Rhizoma anemmarrhenae) to clear Stomach Fire, nourish Yin, and thus reduce the excess hunger Stomach Fire generates

Kidney Yin Deficiency: Formulas use herbs such as Shu Di Huang (Radix rehmannia Glutinosae), Zhi Mu (Rhizoma anemmarrhenae), and Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni) to nourish Kidney Yin, clear Heat, and reduce excessive urination.

Herbs such as Xi Yang Shen (American ginseng) and Dan Shen (salvia) may be added to formulas as well to tonify the Qi and prevent Blood Stasis. From the perspective of conventional research, specific herbs for other symptoms, in particular Xi Yang Shen (American ginseng) and Zhi Mu (Rhizoma anemmarrhenae) have a powerful effect in lowering blood glucose levels. The addition of herbs such as Dan Shen (salvia) is important in these formulas, as prevention of Blood Stasis has a beneficial effect on the circulatory disorders that are often a complication of diabetes.

2. Acupuncture Treatment:
Acupuncture treatment for diabetes focuses on treating the Patterns of Disharmony and any other symptoms.
-- Upper Burner patterns affecting the Lung are treated with points such as Lung 5 (Chi Ze), UB13 (Fei Shu), and Sp 6 (San Yin Jiao)
-- Middle Burner patterns affecting the Stomach are treated with points such as Ren 12 (Zhong Wan), Stomach 44 (Nei Ting), and Sp 6 (San Yin Jiao)
-- Lower Burner patterns affecting the Kidneys are treated with points such as Ki3 (Tai Xi) and Sp 6 (San Yin Jiao)

Empirical points may be used as well. Yi Shu, which has an effect on the pancreas (the organ as understood in conventional medicine), is a common addition to all acupuncture treatments of diabetes. Likewise, a point on the sole of the foot, Ki 1 (Yong Quan), may be treated. As this is a painful point to needle, it may be massaged or treated with electricity alone. Other symptoms, such as Qi deficiency and Blood Stasis, may be treated with points such as St 36 (Zu San Li) and Sp 10 (Xue Hai).