Acupunctural Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus: Case report / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The objectives of treatment for diabetes mellitus are to prevent complications and to inhibit or reduce the progression of disease. For these purposes, a physiological blood glucose level must be maintained. Cramps in both legs and other symptoms believed to be complications of diabetes mellitus were treated by acupunctural therapy. A diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was made by internists in all patients evaluated in this study. We investigated whether our treatments had any effect on the diabetic status of these patients. Our records were kept on diabetes charts devised by members of the local branch of the Japanese Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy. After beginning acupunctural treatment, the fasting blood glucose levels and levels of hemoglobin A_1C were improved. Both the fasting blood glucose level and the hemoglobin A_1C level serve as important indicators of symptoms and complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. Our findings have shown that acupunctural therapy is effective in treating diabetes mellitus. Treatment of diabetes by acupuncture also lead to the amelioration of symptoms due to its complications.