['Insufficient insulin secretion or inefficient insulin response are responsible for the clinical outcome of type\xa02 diabetes mellitus. Administration of insulin alone is prone to cause secondary effects, resulting in an unsatisfactory outcome. Shen-Qi-Formula (SQF), a well-known Chinese medicinal formula, has been used for diabetic treatment for a long time. The present study was designed to investigate whether SQF in combination with insulin improved the clinical outcome of type\xa02 diabetes mellitus, and what mechanisms were possibly involved in the treatment.', 'A total of 219 patients were included in the study. Of these, 110 patients were treated with insulin monotherapy, and 109 with the combination therapy of SQF and insulin. Before and after 12-week treatment, the fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, β-cell function, insulin resistance and blood lipids were measured.', 'The 12\xa0weeks of SQF treatment in combination with insulin significantly decreased the fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels. Insulin secretion was not increased after the treatment, but β-cell function and insulin resistance were obviously improved. Furthermore, 12\xa0weeks of treatment with SQF and insulin improved the levels of glucagon-like peptide-1, oxidative stress, blood lipids, coagulation function and bodyweight.'] Does insulin combined with Chinese medicine improve glycemic outcome through multiple pathways in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus?