I don't think zhong guo ren  say Helow...but rather Halo..!!! 

As far as your medicine you never mentioned what it was you were seeing the doctor for. You only stated that your friend had diabetes and that her cost was such and such and such. 

If you are seeking a chinese doc in shanghai and you want to find a cheaper less expensive cost for a medicine you wouldn't be able to find one that is dramatically different from doctor to doctor.  

If one doctor sells medicine at such and such a price other doctors will charge just about the same. Unless it was a lower quality medicine but even then the price would be relatively the same price anywhere you search. 

I have VA medical benefits so all of my medicine will be at least 70% cheaper than what people will get at some pharmacy. Woulda coulda shoulda but you didn't!

It also depends on what kind of diabetes. My brother in law has type II which he controls with simple diet but his older brother has type I which require insulin injections. That could have a big impact on treatment.

I can't advise on the Shanghai aspect, but...

TCM medicines come in basically 2 sorts - the 'freshly' prepared type (which cost a fortune), and the pre-prepared generic remedy type (which come in normal pill form, shape, and bottles. By generic, I mean 'this is for Yang Tonifying', 'this is for Shen Yin Xu'...

The generic ones are readily available overseas, and are put out by the bigger pharmaceutical companies.

I'd suggest, if you're just after a cheaper form of herbal medicine, get the TCM doctor's diagnosis, then look on taobao or similar (or go to a shop yourself), and collect the meds that way.

And, at all costs, avoid getting into an argument over whether TCM actually works or not, or has been scientifically disproven as complete hokum,

Just make a cup of tea.  It will taste better than any "medicine" they give you and be just as effective.