Book excerpt: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic progressive disease characterised by hyperglycaemia. It affects many people around the world and creates burden for the individual as well as the economy. Chinese medicine can be used to support the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus symptoms. Chapter 1 of the book summarises the conventional understanding of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, including aetiology, diagnosis and current available treatments.This book uses the 'whole evidence' approach to give an overview of the available evidence for Chinese medicine treatment for Type 2 diabetes mellitus, from classical literature to clinical evidence. Evidence from clinical studies are evaluated using high-quality and rigorous scientific methodology. Clinical trial literature of Chinese medicine treatments for Type 2 diabetes mellitus are described, with treatment modalities including Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and other Chinese medicine therapies. The findings are analysed and potential implications for clinical practice and research are explored. Experimental studies that describe the potential mechanisms of action of key herbs are summarised. Current evidence of Chinese medicine for Type 2 diabetes mellitus is synthesised in the final chapter, and suggestions for contemporary clinical practice and future research are also offered.Targeted at clinicians and students of Chinese and integrative medicine, this book is a convenient reference that provides comprehensive synthesis of both classical and contemporary knowledge, which can support and be incorporated into their clinical practice.