ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the clinical effects of external application of late silkworm sand on peripheral neuropathy in diabetic (DPN) patients with cold coagulation blood stasis(CCBS).Methods:Sixty DPN patients with CCBS were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group(n=30, each group). Both groups were given routine treatment with mecobalamin, while the experimental group was treated with external application of silkworm sand additionally for 4 weeks.Improvements in brachial-ankle index(ABI)and foot vibration perception threshold(VPT)were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Results:The left and right ABI values were increased and the VPT value was decreased in the two groups after treatment compared with before treatment values.The left and right ABI values were higher( t=6.690 and 8.355, both P=0.000)and the VPT values were lower( t=6.447 and 6.734, both P=0.000)in the experimental group than in the control group after treatment. Conclusions:External application of late silkworm sand can improve ABI and VPT with good safety in treating DPN patients with CCBS and should be promoted in clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of silkworm excrement ironing on blood levels of glucose,lipids and Hcy in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients with cold coagulation and blood stasis.Methods A total of 260 diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients with cold coagulation and blood stasis were randomly divided into the control group(n=130)and the observation group(n=130).Both groups were treated with oral methylcobalamin(500 μg,tid),and in addition,the observation group was given silkworm excrement ironing on areas of the limb with numbness and pain.Patients underwent one single course of treatment lasting 4 weeks.Blood levels of glucose,lipids and Hcy preand post treatment were analyzed.Results Blood lipid profiles and hemorheology improved in both groups after treatment,compared with pre-treatment data,and greater improvement was seen in the observation group than in the control group(all P＜0.05).Plasma Hcy levels decreased in both groups after treatment,compared with pre-treatment levels,and deeper decline was seen in the observation group than in the control group after treatment(all P＜0.05).Conclusions Silkworm excrement ironing can effectively improve the blood glucose profile and lipid metabolism,reduce plasma Hcy levels and may exert beneficial preventive and therapeutic effects on diabetic peripheral neuropathy.