Elderly diabetic patients are prone to constipation due to old age, insufficiency of the spleen and stomach, insufficient yang qi, or prolonged sitting and less movement. Constipation is "the suffocation of Taiyin, the abdominal distention and fullness, which is unfavorable afterward" ("Neijing"), and constipation is called "yin knot", "yang knot" and "spleen covenant" ("Treatise on Febrile Diseases"). It should be "smoothed with medicine", and not "chased with harsh medicine" (Zhu Danxi). Senile diabetic constipation is mainly characterized by virtual secret, cold secret and gas secret.

In the treatment of senile diabetic constipation, it is not advisable to use the medicines for purging fire and laxatives, but should focus on moistening the bowels and laxatives, and at the same time adding the products of regulating qi and strengthening the spleen. In daily life, elderly diabetic patients should develop the habit of regular bowel movements, pay attention to diet and physical exercise, especially functional constipation. Drink plenty of water to prevent dry skin. At the same time, at the turn of spring and summer when the temperature is gradually rising, avoid cold and spicy food to prevent aggravating constipation. In the treatment of senile diabetic constipation with traditional Chinese medicine, different traditional Chinese medicine treatment programs are adopted according to the clinical manifestations of constipation.

blood deficiency constipation

Characterized by constipation, pale complexion, pale tongue and thin pulse. Medicinal angelica, hemp seed, yuzhu, raw ground, rehmannia, ginseng, bergamot, rafter, citrus aurantium, raw astragalus, white honey, etc.

Qi deficiency and constipation

The characteristics are that although there is a desire to have a bowel movement, the patient is not able to work hard, the stool is not dry and hard, the spirit is tired and timid, the tongue is tender and the coating is thin, and the pulse is weak. Medicinal astragalus, tuckahoe, hawthorn, woody incense, bergamot, incense rafter, hemp seed, white honey, etc.

cold secret

It is characterized by difficult and astringent stools, cold pain in the abdomen, liking heat and disliking cold, pale tongue with white coating, and deep and slow pulse. Medicinal Angelica, Immortal Spirit Spleen, Cistanche, Muxiang, Citrus Citrus, Hemp Seed, Raw Astragalus, etc.

hot secret

It is characterized by dry stool, thirst like cold drinks, yellow and dry fur, and rapid pulse. Medicinal rhubarb, citrus aurantium, white peony root, raw ground, ginseng, stilbene, etc.

gas secret

It is characterized by constipation, frequent belching, abdominal distention and pain, fullness in the chest and flanks, thin and greasy fur, and stringy pulse. Medicinal wood incense, betel nut, bergamot, turmeric, citrus aurantium, hemp seed, Bupleurum, Neijin, etc.