Acupuncture: An Alternative Treatment for Diabetes Patients

Similar to other diseases, there are a few alternative treatments for diabetes patients that can compliment their lifestyle, and to further reduce the penalty imposed to him or her by the disease. 

One of these treatments is the ancient Chinese craft of acupuncture. This technique, belonging the group of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is not based upon any type of scientific knowledge, consists of inserting very small, thin needles into specific points of the person’s body to trigger a wide variety of effects. Though the technique is seldom used on its own, it is often employed as a supplement for traditional treatments to a wide variety of conditions, including chronic pain, obesity, anxiety, and inflammation, among others. In China, acupuncture is even being used as a symptomatic treatment of diabetes, focusing on the mechanisms which trigger the disease’s ailments.

Despite the treatment being labeled essentially as ‘pseudoscience’, statistics show that, from 1997 to 2007, customer visits to acupuncturists nearly tripled, for a total of over 3.14 million Americans having seen one of these professionals in order to receive treatment.

The research that explores acupuncture’s effectiveness has always been stacked against the technique, rather than in favor. However, new studies conducted on rats in Beijing have confirmed the technique’s usefulness in treating diabetes symptoms. In the 3 weeks of treating diabetic rats with acupuncture, the subjects showed reduced blood sugar levels, increased levels of insulin in their blood, and diminished insulin resistance, which means that, besides having more insulin in the blood, the body is also able to use the hormone more effectively than without acupuncture.

Another article published in the health journal ‘Acupuncture in Medicine’ studied several research pieces released from 2008 to 2015 in order to determine acupuncture’s effectiveness as a method for treating insulin resistance. Of all the articles considered, the common conclusion was that a certain type of acupuncture (namely, electroacupuncture) could be used in tandem with other treatments to reduce insulin resistance in the person. Other methods found effective in combination with electroacupuncture were exercise, and a diet supplemented with several Chinese herbs. Furthermore, it was also determined that, when used alongside diabetic medication metformin, the symptoms were improved to even great lengths.

Other types of acupuncture which were also proven effective — albeit less than electroacupuncture — are wrist-ankle stimulation and herbal acupuncture. The latter, as its name implies, consists of deep stimulation of the nerves in the person’s wrists and ankles to repair diabetes-caused peripheral neuritis. Furthermore, it can also be used to treat chronic pain in diabetic patients. The latter, on the other hand, consists of regular acupuncture where the needles are treated with certain Chinese herbs to enhance their effects, and which also help to keep blood glucose levels in check.

Regardless of the type of technique used, acupuncture has recently been proven to be an effective symptomatic treatment for diabetes. The most important thing to consider, however, is that it is administered by a licensed and certified professional since it can be potentially hazardous in the wrong hands.

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is, by definition, a metabolic disorder. The condition consists, first and foremost, of constant periods of hyperglycemia or, in other words, elevated blood sugar levels brought about by insulin resistance as well as the relative lack of insulin production. The term insulin refers to the polypeptide hormone that plays a vital role in the metabolization of nutrients, including glucose, into energy, keeping blood sugar levels in check. A diabetic person has, for one reason or another, diminished insulin effects in their body, which leads to persistently elevated blood sugar levels which, if left unchecked, may cause symptoms of increasing intensity, up until the person’s premature expiration.

Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common variation of the disease, reaching epidemic status in 2010, with more than 285 million individuals (around 6% of the world’s adult population) suffering from it at the time. Type 2 diabetes encompasses around 90% of all cases of the disease, and it estimated that, as of 2015, more than 347 million people are suffering from it. Despite being able to affect people from all ethnicities, geographical location, and gender, diabetes is more prevalent in certain individuals. For instance, women are more likely to develop the disease. Similarly, those residing in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Isles, as well as those belonging to the native American and Hispanic ethnicities are more liable to suffer from type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, it is those that reside in developed countries that are more likely to develop the condition, as they have more access to junk foods and work-reducing technology.

In type 1 diabetes, the person loses all insulin-producing capabilities due to the body’s immune system targeting the beta cells in the pancreas, which are the ones who produce the vital hormone. This variant is very rare, occurring in about 0.5% of all diabetes cases, and regularly manifest early in the person’s life, usually before 30 years of age. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is caused by a mix of environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors which, at some point in the person’s life, wear out the insulin-producing structures, creating a shortage of the hormone in the individual, and leading to a constant hyperglycemic state and the onset of diabetes.

Unfortunately, this disease is still, to this day, incurable. Those who suffer from it usually manifest constant sensations of thirst and hunger, as well as frequent urination during their waking hours, alongside a steady yet noticeable weight loss. Other elements that are factored into the diagnosis of the disease are the presence of blurry eyesight, itchiness, peripheral neuropathy, recurring vaginal infections, and fatigue. Luckily, the symptoms are easy to keep under control by adopting healthier eating habits alongside regular exercises and medical treatment. A person that is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes will have, on average, around 10 years less of life expectancy due to the complications of the disease at later ages. Nevertheless, by adopting a better lifestyle and following the physician’s indication, the person can effectively prolong his life to the level of a normal, healthy person.