Yao LD 2003.

Methods	Generation of allocation sequence: unstated. Blinding: not used. Sample size estimation: no information. Withdrawal/drop‐out: unstated.
Participants	Ethnic: Chinese; 336 patients (M/F 180/156, age from 39‐67 years. 156 in integrated therapy group; 105 in metformin group; and 75 in herb group). Setting: outpatients and inpatients. Inclusion criteria: type 2 diabetes mellitus, diagnosed by WHO criteria (1999). Exclusion criteria: type 1 diabetes, drug‐induced, pregnant diabetes.
Interventions	Experimental intervention: Potentilla chinensis, 50 g daily , drinking as tea; plus Berberine (alkaloid from herb), 0.3 g, t.i.d., orally; for three months. Control intervention: metformin, 0.25‐0.5 g orally, t.i.d., plus glipizide, 5‐10 mg, t.i.d., for three months. Combined therapy group: Potentilla chinensis, plus metformin and glipizide, the same regimen as above.
Outcomes	FBG, PBG, and insulin release test. Outcomes were measured at 6 months of follow‐up.
Notes	There were skew distribution of numbers of patients among the three groups. The author did not give explanation for that.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Unclear risk	B ‐ Unclear