Published online Jul 15, 2022. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v13.i7.581
Peer-review started: February 28, 2022
First decision: April 17, 2022
Revised: April 18, 2022
Accepted: June 14, 2022
Article in press: June 14, 2022
Published online: July 15, 2022
Processing time: 132 Days and 19.2 Hours
Diabetes mellitus is a common global public health problem that can cause serious illness and premature death. Diabetic foot ulcer, one of the complications of diabetes, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and is associated with many other devastating complications. Previous study found that a group of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be used for treating diabetic foot ulcers. More and more attention is being paid to the use of Chinese medicine to heal diabetic feet. Under the guidance of relevant theories of traditional Chinese medicine, more studies are needed to reveal the key active components and related signal pathways of TCM in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer. One clinical study explored the treatment of diabetic foot with infection combined moist exposed burn ointment with Jinhuang powder. However, large-scale multi-center, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials and animal studies are necessary to establish the effectiveness of Jinhuang powder in the treatment of diabetic foot.
Core Tip: In recent years, most diabetic foot patients in China are adopting traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine. The short duration of clinical follow-up was not sufficient to explain the efficacy of the treatment, and the safety of the treatment was not mentioned. Large multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trials and animal studies are necessary to determine Jinhuang powder as supplement combined with other Chinese medicine or western medicine as an effective and safe therapy for diabetic foot.