What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is a health problem characterized by too much sugar in the blood, and is commonly experienced worldwide.

Acupuncture as a Treatment for Diabetes

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a system of medicine that has been used for over 2,000 years to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses. One of the most commonly used therapies in TCM is acupuncture. Acupuncture is when thin metal needles are inserted into your skin to stimulate specific points (called acupoints) on your body. This procedure removes blockages in the flow of vital energy or life force called qi (pronounced “chee”). Research has proven that acupuncture can help treat diabetes. Needling at acupoint CV-12 (located in the abdomen) has been widely used to relieve symptoms of diabetes. In an earlier study, CV-12, in combination with other acupuncture points, improved blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after eight weeks of treatment. The researchers also found that the longer people received acupuncture, the better their blood sugar levels were.

While needling CV-12 considerably reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic rats, the study found that it did not have the same effect in healthy individuals. Various studies reported the hypoglycemic effect of acupuncture, but the mechanisms underlying this effect are unclear. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of needling at CV-12 on blood glucose levels in people suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

The Study Method on Needling at Acupoint CV-12 for Type 2 Diabetics

40 recruited T2DM patients were randomly and evenly assigned to the acupuncture or placebo control groups. The patients in the acupuncture group were needled at acupoint CV-12. Those in the placebo group were needled at a non-acupoint on the right side of the abdomen. In both groups, the needle was retained for 30 minutes. Assessments were performed before and after the intervention.

The Results

There was a significant reduction in blood glucose level in the acupuncture group compared to baseline. There was no significant change observed in the placebo control group.

The Conclusion

The present study suggests that 30 minutes of needling at CV-12 with manual stimulation might effectively lower blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Reference

Immediate Effect of Needling at CV-12 (Zhongwan) Acupuncture Point on Blood Glucose Level in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial