ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion in assisting the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathies (DPN) on the recovery and prognosis of neurological function. Method A total of 170 DPN patients were evenly randomized into two groups. The control group received conventional treatment; the observation group was additionally given acupuncture-moxibustion to assist the treatment. The clinical efficacies and nerve conduction velocity were compared between the two groups, and the occurrence of complications was observed in the 2-month follow-up. Result The total effective rate approached 92.9% in the observation group, significantly higher than 76.5% in the control group (P<0.05). The test of motor nerve conduction velocity showed that, after the treatment, the left median nerve conduction velocity was (44.2±2.3)m/s in the observation group, significantly higher than (33.4±4.1)m/s in the control group; the left ulnar nerve conduction velocity was (44.3±2.4)m/s in the observation group, significantly higher than (33.9±4.1)m/s in the control group; the right tibial nerve conduction velocity was (37.1±4.3)m/s in the observation group, significantly higher than (31.9±2.6)m/s in the control group; the right peroneal nerve conduction velocity was (36.9±2.5)m/s in the observation group, also significantly higher than (35.8±2.6)m/s inthe control group. In comparing the sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV), the left median nerve conduction velocity was (44.1±3.2)m/s in the observation group, significantly higher than (33.3±4.1)m/s in the control group; the left ulnar nerve conduction velocity was (43.5±2.6)m/s in the observation group, significantly higher than (33.9±2.7)m/s in the control group; the right superficial peroneal nerve conduction velocity was (35.8±2.6)m/s in the observation group, significantly higher than (30.9±3.8)m/s in the control group (P<0.05). The 2-month follow-up study showed that the occurrence rate of complications was 14.1% in the observation group, significantly lower than 28.2% in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture-moxibustion produces a significant efficacy in assisting the treatment of DPN. It can markedly accelerate the nerve conduction velocity and reduce the occurrence of complications in advanced stage.