“…[20] In addition, the use of HQD in combination with valsartan significantly delayed the disease progression in patients with DKD stage III or IV; reduced the levels of 24 h urine protein, UACR, glycated hemoglobin, serum cystatin C, and inflammatory factors such as CD4 + T, CD8 + T, TNF-α, and IL-6; and significantly reduced the Chinese medicine symptom scores in patients with DKD stage IV. [21][22][23] HQD plays a role in improving glucolipid metabolism disorders in patients with DKD. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed that after 12 weeks of treatment with HQD in combination with valsartan, patients with stage III DKD had significantly better TCM efficacy, TCM syndrome score, UACR, fasting and 2-hour postprandial glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and lipids than those treated with valsartan alone.…”