Study on the effect of acupuncture & hydrotherapy for diabetes

This pragmatic study from the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao investigated the intervention of acupuncture in combination with hydrotherapy and its perceived effects in patients with type 2 diabetes and recently diagnosed mild peripheral arterial occlusive disease (LEAD) compared to a control group.

126 diabetic patients with mild LEAD, diagnosed by ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) and peripheral neuropathy symptoms, were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group . The experimental group underwent (1) a 30-minute acupuncture session at specific selected points and (2) a 30-minute hydrotherapy exercise every other day for 15 weeks. Outcome parameters were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and six weeks after completion.

The intervention resulted in an improvement in blood flow to the legs as well as an increase in certain physical abilities, including the Chair Sit and Reach Test, the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) and the Physical Sum Score (PCS), compared to the control group. These treatment benefits persisted until the six-week follow-up point. There were no differences in fasting glucose, HbA1c, blood pressure or BMI after the intervention. After six weeks, the combination therapy resulted in a reduction in inflammatory responses, including a decrease in IL-6, TNF-α, malondialdehyde and SOD, and an increase in glutathione levels.

Acupuncture combined with hydrotherapy showed measurable benefits on disease-specific physical functions and health-related quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes and mild LEAD, without significant effects on glycemic control. Our results suggest that the combined therapy regulates inflammatory processes and oxidative stress and contributes to immune defense.