Objectives : The purpose of this study is to research trends in the study of diabetes mellitus and to establish the future direction for its study. Methods : We reviewed oriental medicine papers published in the last twenty-three years(1980-2002). Results : 1. We researched 94 papers in 14 journals and the patterns of study were as follows: experimental studies were 53 (56.3%), reviewed studies were 20 (21.2%), clinical studies were 12 (12.7%) and case reports were 9 (9.8%). 2. The experimental studies (53) were divided into papers on efficiency testing of herbal medications (40) and acupuncture & moxibustion (13). 3. The reviewed studies showed that research has been carried out in the fields of cause, pathogenesis, principles for treating disease, acupuncture and moxibustion, herbal medication, exercise, and relation of sasang (사상) to diabetes mellitus. 4. The clinical studies showed that the research was carried out in the fields of follow up surveys for herbal medication efficiency testing, the relativity of diabetes mellitus to other diseases and sasang (사상). 5. In consequence of researching the case reports, there was no common prescription used meaningfully. Conclusions : We need more studies of diabetes mellitus by reaching for specific therapy.