Objective: To explore the syndrome types and drug characteristics of type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy, so as to provide a reference for Chinese medicine research and clinical practice. Methods: The literature concerning oral Chinese medicine for type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy, published by CNKI, Wan Fang and VIP from January 2010 to December 2016, is collected to sort out its syndrome types, syndrome elements, treatment methods and prescriptions by using frequency analysis, constituent ratio analysis and factor analysis. Results: The common syndromes types of type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy are Qi vacuity with blood stasis, Qi and Yin vacuity, static blood obstructing the network vessels, phlegm-stasis obstructing the network vessels, Yang vacuity and blood stasis and liver-kidney Yin vacuity. The common disease syndrome elements are blood stasis, Qi vacuity, network vessels, Yin vacuity, phlegm, dampness and Yang vacuity. The common position syndrome elements are network vessels, liver, spleen and kidney. The deficiency syndrome elements are Qi vacuity, Yin vacuity and Yang vacuity. The repletion pattern elements are blood stasis, phlegm, dampness, heat and toxin. The common prescriptions are Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction (黄芪桂枝五物汤), Danggui Sini decoction (当归四逆汤) and Buyang Huanwu decoction (补阳还五汤). The common Chinese medicines are Huangqi (astragalus) and Danggui (angelica). Commonly used drug pairs are Huangqi (astragalus) series and Taoren (peach kernel) series. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a disease of root vacuity and tip repletion and vacuity-repletion complex. The deficiencies are mainly Qi vacuity and Yin vacuity. The tip repletion is mainly blood stasis while others are phlegm, dampness, heat and poison. The position of the disease is in the network vessels, involving the liver, spleen and kidney. Vacuity of Qi and Yin is the basic pathogenesis of type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and blood stasis is the key. Supplement Qi and quicken the blood play an important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy.