Acupuncture & TCM For Diabetes Management: A Case Study

Acupuncture and Diabetes Treatment

After 4 months of/ style=”text-decoration:none;”> diabetes treatment with Acupuncture and herbal medicine, the patient’s blood sugar is below 100 with blood pressure of 117/65 and she is completely off Insulin and any medication.

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Patient’s Words:

For anyone with diabetes wanting to find an alternative to prescription pills I can wholeheartedly recommend the acupuncturist & Chinese herbalist, Leah Mazel in Berkeley. When I started seeing Leah I had been diagnosed as diabetic and my blood sugar was in the high 100’s (for which I was taking insulin), I had long term issues with my blood pressure (which I controlled with medication for eight years), and I terrible symptoms from colitis for which I was taking Asacol. In short, I was a walking mess. Four months later I no longer take insulin and my b/sugar is regularly below 100, my b/pressure is 117 over 65 (the lowest in years and my medication has been reduced to a bare minimum), and I no longer have colitis! I’ve always been a believer in Chinese herbs and acupuncture and so seeing Leah wasn’t a stretch, but the results have gone way beyond what I expected!

Acupuncture and Diabetes Treatment Discussion

Success of diabetes treatment lies upon the improvement of the overall blood sugar level in the body and relieving the complicated symptoms of diabetes. In modern-day, the concept of acupuncture and diabetes treatment has been adapted from China and the researchers who are trying to establish the ultimate use of Acupuncture in the treatment of diabetes state that: 

• Acupuncture therapy helps control the level of glucose in the blood

• It enhances the natural insulin production and resistance

• It also balances the levels of hormones which affect the level of blood sugar in the body.1

What are the different type Diabetes that can be treated with Acupuncture?

• Type 1: This is insulin-dependent diabetes. Genetic and environmental factors are responsible for this. This type of diabetes accounts for 5 to 10 per cent only.

• Type 2: This is mostly the non-insulin dependent diabetes and accounts for 90 to 95 per cent of all diagnosed cases. The causes of this diabetes may include, age factors, family history, obesity etc. 2

Acupuncture and Diabetes Treatment:

Undoubtedly there are different types of acupuncture treatments available. But according to the research, only three of them are being used for diabetes treatment.

• Wrist and Ankle: The ankle and wrist nerves are stimulated. This is probably the safest kind of acupuncture treatment being applied. 3
  

• Electroacupuncture: For diabetes treatment, this is considered to be the most common treatment. After inserting a pair of needles in the acupuncture points, electrical impulse is passed from one needle to another. 

• Herbal acupuncture: As the name implies, this treatment is done with intervention of herbs. The herbs are injected in the acupuncture points. It is considered one of the best options for type 2 diabetes.4

See: Diabetic Diet Meal Plans For A Day

REFERENCES:

1. Article 261709, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014, The University of Hong Kong.

2. Research by Jane Kelly, CDC (Centers for disease control and prevention) spokesperson, National Diabetes Education Program, 

3. Is acupuncture effective for the treatment of chronic pain, J. Ezzo, B. B. Singh, A. R. Jadad and others. Vol.86

4. Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 1997, Volume 13, page 12 to 13. 

See: Indian Diabetic Recipe Kadhai Tofu with Capsicum