Acupuncture and Type 1 Diabetes

Acupuncture can be a very helpful tool in the management of type 1 diabetes.

What is it?

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine in which tiny needles are placed at various points on the body to treat and prevent illness.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the body is viewed in a holistic way, and treatments are individualized to each patient’s presenting symptoms.

Several research studies have shown that acupuncture can be helpful in the maintenance of type 1 diabetes by:

• Lowering blood glucose and regulating endocrine function [1]
• Decreasing anxiety and depression [2]
• Alleviating painful peripheral neuropathy and preserving nerve function[3][4]
• Increasing gastric emptying time (gastropareisis) [5]
• increasing circulation and range of motion in musculoskeletal conditions like frozen shoulder and trigger finger[6]

In addition, acupuncture also works in a preventative capacity by supporting the body’s immune system to fight off colds and viruses.

And as people with type 1 diabetes know, getting sick can cause major fluctuations in blood sugar control.

How does acupuncture work?

A typical acupuncture treatment will include a consultation in which the practitioner will ask a variety of questions about all the systems of the body.

After this consultation, the acupuncturist will insert anywhere from 4-20 needles and leave you to rest for about 30 minutes.

Does acupuncture hurt?

• The idea of more needles can be daunting to anyone with type 1 diabetes.
• Acupuncture needles are about the width of a cat’s whisker, and the insertion is generally painless, although some points may elicit a dull, throbbing sensation. A
• fter the needles are inserted, most people fall into a state of deep relaxation and some even fall right to sleep.

How often do I need acupuncture?

More from Sarah Swanberg How Acupuncture Changed My Life

[1] Electroacupuncture for Control of Blood Glucose in Diabetes: Literature Review

Peplow, Philip V. et al.Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , 1 – 10

[2] Is acupuncture beneficial in depression: A meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled trials?

Wang, Hao et al.Journal of Affective Disorders , Volume 111 , Issue 2 , 125 – 134

[3] Lin D, De La Pena I, Lin L, Zhou S-F, Borlongan CV, Cao C. The Neuroprotective Role of Acupuncture and Activation of the BDNF Signaling Pathway. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2014;15(2):3234-3252. doi:10.3390/ijms15023234.

[4] M A Hamza, P F White, W F Craig, E S Ghoname, H E Ahmed, T J Proctor, C E Noe, A S Vakharia, and N Gajraj: Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: a novel analgesic therapy for diabetic neuropathic pain.Diabetes Care March 2000 23:3 365-370; doi:10.2337/diacare.23.3.365

[5] http://www.jcimjournal.com/articles/publishArticles/pdf/201071033654.pdf

[6] http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2002/aug/08shoulder.html