Evidence That Acupuncture Can Help Benefit Diabetics

Do you have diabetes? If so, did you know that acupuncture can help alleviate your condition? It’s true. There have been many studies that have shown how specific acupuncture points help improve symptoms of diabetes, from lowering glucose levels and increasing insulin levels, to improving glucose tolerance. 

Have you considered a holistic approach to managing your diabetes, but not quite sure how it can help you? Read on to learn how a recent study proved this ancient form of Eastern medicine has the ability to improve this modern malady.

Acupuncture for Diabetics Study Parameters

A clinical trial of obese patients with type 2 diabetes conducted at the Sanming County Hospital of Integrated Medicine in China found that combining acupuncture treatments with traditional care is more effective than routine treatments alone. A sample group of 124 newly diagnosed patients was split into two groups. One was administered acupuncture in addition to medication and advice regarding exercise and diet. The other was given no acupuncture at all.

In order to qualify for the study, patients must have received no other diabetic treatments and had a Body Mass Index greater than 28. Applicants with kidney problems, liver problems and high blood pressure were eliminated from consideration. Both men and women participated in the study and each subject explicitly consented to their results being measured.

Routine care included taking one tablet of metformin daily. Patients were advised on how to reduce their calorie intake and what level of exercise they should maintain. Their initially prescribed aerobic regimen included 15 minutes of walking three days per week. The latter part of the study increased this to 30 minutes of walking twice a day for five days a week.

Acupuncture for Diabetics Study Procedure

Participants who were administered acupuncture had particular acupoints worked on, as determined by their individual medical situations. Patients started by lying face upward for 30 minutes per session. Subjects then lay face down for another half-hour as the remaining pressure points were worked on. Three 20-day stints of acupuncture treatments were interrupted by 10-day interludes.

Acupuncture for Diabetics Study Results

The breakthrough study measured relevant variables including weight, blood chemistry and insulin levels. Of the group that received acupuncture, 30 had their diabetes reversed and 28 experienced partial benefits. Among those not administered acupuncture, only 22 had their diabetes reversed and just 26 showed some improvement. Only four individuals who received acupuncture showed no positive gains whatsoever.

In sum, the group receiving acupuncture experienced a 93.55% effectiveness rate, whereas those given no acupuncture only achieved 77.42% effectiveness. These results definitively demonstrate that diabetes sufferers can benefit greatly from acupuncture.

Acupuncture Specific To Your Needs 

If you have type 2 diabetes, consider making acupuncture part of your overall treatment plan. Experienced practitioners like those at Holistic Vitality Center can play a valuable role in bettering your health. We focus on your individual needs and expect results. We strive to balance you energetically, biochemically and physically allowing you to live a healthier life. 

Contact our team online, or call our holistic professionals directly by calling (919) 848-3333 today! 

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