ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of wrist-ankle acupuncture plus bloodletting cupping in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathies (DPN). Method A total of 120 patients were randomized into two groups by using the random number table. Sixty cases in the treatment group were intervened by wrist-ankle acupuncture plus bloodletting cupping; sixty cases in the control group were treated with Mecobalamin tablets. The clinical efficacies were evaluated and electroneurogram was tested after 28-day treatment. Result The total effective rate was 95.0% in the treatment group versus 88.3% in the control group. The clinical efficacy of the treatment group was significantly superior to that of the control group (P<0.05). The treatment group was significantly better than the control group in comparing the major symptoms and signs including numbness, pain, and weakness in limbs (P<0.05); there were no significant between-group differences in comparing symptoms including cold limbs, short of breath and unwilling to speak, lassitude, and thirsty with desire to drink (P>0.05). The treatment group had better effect than the control group in comparing the motor conduction velocity of superficial peroneal nerve and sensory conduction velocity of common peroneal nerve (P<0.05). Conclusion Wrist-ankle acupuncture plus bloodletting cupping is effective in treating DPN, and it benefits the recovery of motor and sensory function of the impaired peripheral nerves.