ISLAMABAD, August 12(ABC): Acupuncture has been used as an alternative medical practice for about 3,000 yearsTrusted Source. First started in China, acupuncture has become a more widespread practice in Western countries since the 1950s. A survey of Americans in 2012 reported about 3.5 million AmericansTrusted Source used acupuncture as a complementary health approach.
Past research shows acupuncture to be effective in providing relief from a variety of different medical issues, including low back pain, headaches, nausea, and menopausal symptoms.
Adding to this list, a team of researchers from Edith Cowan University in Australia reports findings showing acupuncture therapy may be useful in helping prediabetic patients ward off type 2 diabetes.
The new study was recently published in the journal Holistic Nursing Practice.
Acupuncture for diabetes
Acupuncture is an ancient practice from traditional Chinese medicineTrusted Source. An acupuncturist inserts very thin needles into various areas of the body. The needles help stimulate these specific areas — known as acupuncture points — to help remove any “blockages” in the body’s natural energy flow, called “qiTrusted Source” (pronounced /chi/).
Researchers have examined acupuncture as a possible treatment for diabetes for some time now. About 415 million people globallyTrusted Source live with diabetes, with projections to hit half a billion in 2040.
Past research examined acupuncture as a treatment for insulin resistanceTrusted Source, and as a complementary therapy for controlling type 2 diabetes
According to Min Zhang, a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia, associate professor at the College of Nursing and Rehabilitation at North China University of Science and Technology, China, and the lead author of this study, the aim of this research was to identify the effects of acupuncture-related therapies on prediabetes management in community settings; and to find the best treatment protocol.
“Acupuncture works by improving insulin sensitivity, which determines how sensitive our body’s cells are in response to insulin — a hormone to help our body turn food into energy,” she explained to MNT.
“That means acupuncture can help to control blood sugar levels among people with prediabetes by enhancing insulin production and the efficacy of insulin utilization,” Dr. Zhang said.
Analyzing over 100 years of data
For this study, Zhang and her team analyzed data regarding acupuncture-related therapy interventions for glycemic control of prediabetes from 14 databases and five clinical registry platforms. The studies ranged over 100 years, from April 1921 to December 2020, and included more than 3,600 individuals with prediabetes.
From their research, the team discovered acupuncture therapy helped significantly improve key markersTrusted Source, including fasting plasma glucoseTrusted Source, two-hour plasma glucoseTrusted Source, and glycated hemoglobinTrusted Source. They also found acupuncture helped lower the incidence of prediabetes.
The study also showed no reports of adverse reactions from acupuncture therapy among patients.
Additionally, Zhang and her team believe acupuncture provides a holistic option to help alleviate other health issues known to worsen diabetes. These include stressTrusted Source, sleep issuesTrusted Source, and high blood pressureTrusted Source.
“More than 70% of prediabetic people will develop diabetes within their lifetime. If you ignore it, your risks for heart disease and stroke will also go up,” Zhang explained.
She also touched on its advantages over some medications for some people.
“[T]he medication used for people with diabetes, such as metforminTrusted Source, is not recommended or approved for prediabetes by TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia) due to side effects. Since prediabetes is reversible, holistic and non-pharmacological treatment is an investment rather than an expenditure,” she pointed out.
Additionally, Zhang said past research has demonstrated that acupuncture also has benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes.
“Acupuncture could improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes without significant adverse events,” she said. “This effect is facilitated through improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity that reduces the blood glucose level.”
Too early for direct link
MNT also spoke with Dr. Mahmud Kara, founder of KaraMD & Alternative Health Solutions, about the study. Dr. Kara said there are a few areas that warrant further research.
“The first is that the study does not exclude those who received acupuncture treatment while also making lifestyle changes, specifically dietary changes, which makes it difficult to conclude that acupuncture alone has a significant impact on diabetes risk,” he said.
“Another area to look at is the benefits of acupuncture on other health areas indirectly related to diabetes. For example, chronic stressTrusted Source is often associated with glycemic levels and fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Based on this, it would be important to look at whether acupuncture directly impacts blood sugar levels or whether it has an impact on stress reduction and through this, it indirectly benefits one’s health,” Dr. Kara explained.
“Finally, relying on acupuncture alone may not produce the results one is looking for,” he continued.
“While acupuncture may offer some health benefits, other time-proven methods such as lifestyle changes (e.g. diet, exercise, stress reduction) should not be overlooked when it comes to prediabetes and reducing disease risk.”