Review of Research Trends in Traditional Korean Medicine for Diabetes Mellitus: Scoping Review Focusing on Recently Published Domestic Studies

Objectives: This scoping review aimed to identify recent trends in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM)-based diabetes research published in Korea.Methods: A structured search was conducted in four major Korean databases (OASIS, KISS, DBpia, RISS) for studies published from 2015 to 2024, using expanded keywords including “diabetes mellitus,” DM, T1DM, and T2DM. Eligible studies were classified into descriptive reviews, experimental studies, clinical studies, case reports, and systematic reviews. Study selection was independently performed by two reviewers.Results: Seventy-four studies were included. Case reports (37.8%) and experimental studies (31.1%) were most common. Experimental studies mainly examined hypoglycemic effects and insulin-related mechanisms. Clinical studies were predominantly retrospective and assessed the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines alone or in combination with glucose-lowering drugs. Systematic reviews conducted in Korea frequently relied on international randomized controlled trials, highlighting the limited availability of high-quality domestic evidence.Conclusion: Research on TKM-based diabetes has increased; however, prospective clinical trials are needed to strengthen the evidence.