Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of impaired visual function and blindness in adults. The fundus photographs were examined to detect DR. The DR severity was graded non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) according to the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema Disease Severity Scales. The pathogenesis of DR is complex and not fully understood, and platelet aggregation, microvascular damage, microvascular enlargement, leakage, hemorrhage, or obstruction, resulting in retinal hypoxia and retinal neovascularization. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostic tools are non-invasive and convenient. This study apply TCM diagnostic tools for clinical diseases, providing objective diagnostic data for evaluation to assess the association of blood stasis and DR. Furtherly we would evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of TCM diagnostic tools.

This study is a prospective cross-sectional study. We enroll participants form the department of Chinese medicine, China Medical University Hospital. In total, 100 participants , composed of 50 of type 2 diabetes and 50 of diabetic retinopathy, whom previously had a retinal examination. We apply tongue diagnosis system, pulse wave analysis, body constitution questionnaires, and nailfold capillaroscopy to assess the differences of TCM diagnosis in DR.

This study aims to identify the clinical symptoms of DR with TCM diagnostic tools and investigate the pattern difference and treatment for DR. Furtherly, we could design a clinical trial with improving blood circulation to treat or prevent DR, and improve the health status and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• type 2 DM group were diagnosed with DM based on criteria recommended by the American Diabetes Association and required to have a fasting plasma glucose of ≥7mmol/L or an HbA1c of ≥6.5%, as measured on 2 separate occasions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• cancer, active liver disease, current pregnancy, active infection, and cerebrovascular disease

The participants in this prospective cross-sectional study were recruited from the outpatient clinic of endocrinology in China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.