[Acupuncture at spring point, stream point and lower -sea point for type-2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy].

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture at -spring point, -stream point and lower -sea point on neurological function and clinical symptoms in patients with type-2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Methods: Sixty patients with type-2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. Both groups were treated with basic treatment, and the observation group was additionally treated with acupuncture at Neiting (ST 44), Xiangu (ST 43), Dadu (SP 2), Taibai (SP 3), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. once every other day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The changes of TCM symptom score, Toronto clinical assessment (TCSS) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score of pain and serum tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) level were observed before and after treatment in the two groups, and the clinical effects of the two groups were evaluated.

Results: Compared before treatment, the TCM syndrome score and the TCSS score in the two groups were reduced after treatment (<0.05), and the TCM syndrome score after treatment in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, the VAS in the observation group was reduced (<0.05), and the VAS score of pain in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.05). There was no significant difference in the level of serum TNF-α within and between the two groups (>0.05). The total effective rate was 76.7% (23/30) in the observation group, which was superior to 33.3% (10/30) in the control group (<0.05).

Conclusion: Acupuncture at -spring point, -stream point and lower -sea point could effectively improve the neurological function and clinical symptoms in patients with type-2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy.