A 2019 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) set out to address the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating Type II diabetes. Just to give some background, a person is considered to have Type II diabetes when the fasting blood glucose is over 125 mg/dl or the Hemoglobin A1C (HgA1C) is over 6.5%. In this meta-analysis, the authors looked at 21 RCTs and found that acupuncture plus baseline treatment significantly improved blood sugars compared to sham acupuncture or no acupuncture plus baseline treatment. The mean difference was a reduction in fasting blood sugar of over 21 mg/dl and a lower HgA1C by 1.1%.

One of the risk factors for diabetes is obesity. Another meta-analysis in 2009 showed that acupuncture could also assist with weight loss. According to the authors: “Acupuncture significantly reduced a body weight of 1.56 kg (0.74-2.38 kg), on average, compared to placebo or sham treatments. Acupuncture also showed more improved outcomes for body weight (mean difference=1.90 kg; 1.66-2.13 kg), as well as for obesity (relative risk=1.13; 1.04-1.22), than conventional medication.”

Of course, this doesn’t change the fact that exercise and diet shouldn’t be addressed, or that medication may be needed for uncontrolled blood sugars. But these studies indicate that acupuncture may be a beneficial adjunct therapy in a comprehensive treatment program.

References:

1. Chen C, Liu J, Sun M, Liu W, Han J, Wang H. Acupuncture for type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019 Aug;36:100-112. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.04.004. Epub 2019 Jul 2. PMID: 31383426.

2. Cho SH, Lee JS, Thabane L, Lee J. Acupuncture for obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Obes (Lond). 2009 Feb;33(2):183-96. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2008.269. Epub 2009 Jan 13. PMID: 19139756.