Objective: To observe the effects of Chinese medicine for reinforcing Qi and activating blood circulation on nerve conduction velocity and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Methods: Sixty diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome were randomly divided into two groups: Chinese medicine for reinforcing Qi and activating blood circulation group (30 cases, diabetes basic treatment combined with Chinese medicine for reinforcing Qi and activating blood circulation for 12 weeks) and control group (30 cases, diabetes basic treatment for 12 weeks). The changes of common peroneal nerve conduction velocity and serum SOD and MDA levels were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared.

Results: The conduction velocities of the common peroneal nerve in the two groups after 12 weeks of treatment were significantly faster than those before treatment (P < 0.05); the conduction velocity of the sensory nerve in the Chinese medicine for reinforcing Qi and activating blood circulation group after treatment was significantly faster than that in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the motor nerve conduction velocity (P > 0.05). After 12 weeks of treatment, serum SOD levels in both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment (P < 0.05), and the serum MDA levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05). After 12 weeks of treatment, the clinical effective rate of the Chinese medicine for reinforcing Qi and activating blood circulation group was 93.3%, significantly higher than 76.7% of the control group (P = 0.001).

Conclusion: Chinese medicine for reinforcing Qi and activating blood circulation can significantly improve the nerve conduction velocity in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and its mechanism may be related to antioxidant stress.