Objective To analyze the clinical effects and safety of Xuezhikang Capsule combined with epalrestat on peripheral neuropathy(DPN)in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods A total of 125 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with DPN were retrospectively selected as study objects, and were divided into treatment group (55 cases) and control group (70 cases) according to different treatment plans. The control group received epalrestat(50 mg per time, 3 times daily) on the basis of controlling blood glucose, and the treatment group was additionally given Xuezhikang Capsule (0.6 g per time, 2 times daily) to regulate blood lipids on the basis of the treatment regimen of the control group, all of them were treated for 12 weeks. The laboratory index levels, Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS) score and nerve conduction velocity before and after treatment were observed and comparedbetween the two groups.

Results After treatment, the levels of triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the treatment group were lower than before treatment and control group, and the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were higher than before treatment and control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the TCSS scores of two groups were lower than before treatment, and the TCSS score of the treatment group was lower than that of control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the motor conduction velocity (MCV) of median nerve andcommon peroneal nerve and the sensory conduction velocity (SCV) of sural nerve, median nerve and common peroneal nerve in two groups were higher than before treatment, and the treatment group was higher than control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Xuezhikang Capsule combined with epalrestat can regulate blood lipid level, reduce DPN symptoms and improve nerve conduction velocity in patients with type 2 diabetes, and its efficacy is better than epalrestat alone.