Objective: To investigate the effect of Taohong Siwutang on heart rate variability

blood lipids and C reactive protein (CRP) of patients of phlegm and blood stasis type diabetes mellitus with atherosclerosis. Method: A total of 120 patients of phlegm and blood stasis type diabetes mellitus with atherosclerosis were selected and randomly divided into control group and experiment group

with 60 cases in each group. The two groups of patients were given conventional therapy

namely metformin 0.25 g·d-1

and acarbose 50 mg·d-1 or injection with insulin. The control group was orally given isosorbide dinitrate and Danshen dripping pills

10 pills each time

1 times a day. In addition to the conventional therapy

experiment group was orally given with 200 mL warm Taohong Siwutang. One course of treatment was four weeks. The two groups were treated continuously for 4 weeks. Heart rate variability

blood lipids

blood glucose

CRP level and adverse reactions were compared between two groups after the treatment. Result: Compared with control group

the total clinical effective rate was higher in experimental group after treatment (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment

the normal 24 h normal R-R standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN)

the adjacent R-R root mean square successive difference (RMSSD)

and the percentage of adjacent normal R-R difference >50 ms (PNN50) of two groups of patients were increased (P<0.05). Compared with control group

SDNN

RMSSD and PNN50 levels were higher in treatment group(P<0.05). Compared with before treatment

fasting blood glucose (FPG)

2 h postprandial blood glucose (PBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1c) were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with control group

fasting blood glucose

postprandial 2 h blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were lower in experiment group (P<0.05). Total cholesterol (TC)

low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)

triglyceride (TG)

CRP

high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were higher in two groups after treatment (P<0.05). Compared with control group

TC

LDL-C

TG and CRP levels were lower

while HDL-C level was higher in experiment group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Taohong Siwutang has a significant clinical efficacy on patients of phlegm and blood stasis type diabetes mellitus with atherosclerosis

and can regulate heart rate variability and down-regulate the level of CRP

with a high safety. Therefore

it is suitable for clinical application and promotion.