Objective To explore the effect of Shenqi Fufang（ 参芪复方

SF） on skeletal muscle damage of type2 diabetes mellitus（ T2DM） and its possible mechanism. Methods Eighteen rats with spontaneous type 2 diabetes mellitus（ GK） were randomized into the model group

SF group and sitagliptin group with six rats in each group

and six more Wistar rats were selected as the control group. Each group was given high fat diet for 8 weeks to build T2DM model except for the control group. At the same time

the control group and the model group were given normal saline5 ml/（ kg·d） by gastric perfusion

the SF group was given SF extract 1. 44 g/（ kg ·d） by gastric perfusion

and sitagliptin group was given sitagliptin phosphate suspension 16 ml/（ kg·d） by gastric perfusion. Eight weeks later

the levels of serum insulin-like growth factor 1（ IGF-1）

tumor necrosis factor-α（ TNF-α） and interleukin-1β（ IL-1β）were measured in each group

the gastrocnemius muscle was taken out to get the wet weight and observe the pathological changes

and the expression of p70s6k1 protein was detected. Results Compared with the control group

the wet weight of the gastrocnemius muscle

the serum IGF-1 level and p70s6k1 protein expression in the model group significantly decreased（ P < 0. 05）

while the levels of serum TNF-α and IL-1β significantly increased（ P < 0. 05）.Through pathological observation

there existed gastrocnemius muscle cells atrophy

a larger area of edema and interstitial lymphocyte infiltration. Compared with the model group

the wet weight of the gastrocnemius muscle

IGF-1content and p70s6 k protein expression in the sitagliptin group and the SF group significantly increased

the contents of TNF-α and IL-1β significantly decreased（ P < 0. 05）

and there were no obvious muscle cell atrophy and edema

and also little inflammatory cell infiltration. There was no significant difference between the sitagliptin group and SF group（ P > 0. 05）. Conclusion SF could reduce the diabetic skeletal muscle injury; the potential mechanism seems to reduce the inflammatory factor content

improve IGF-1 resistance and maintain the skeletal muscle mass.