Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk for death is approximately twice that of persons of similar age without diabetes.
The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. Complications of diabetes include heart disease, hypertension, eye problems, kidney disease, nervous system disease, periodontal disease, fatigue, and depression, to name a few.
In order to manage diabetes, it is essential for people to make healthy lifestyle choices in diet, exercise, and other health habits. Another important factor when treating diabetes is creating a support team of healthcare professionals. This support team may include your primary doctor, an eye doctor, nurses, a dietitian, and a licensed acupuncturist.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to treat diabetes for over 2,000 years. A patient with “Xiao Ke” or wasting and thirsting disease (the Traditional Chinese medical term for diabetes) is discussed in detail in the Nei Jing, a classic Chinese medical book written some 2,500 years ago. The patient is described as having symptoms of excessive hunger and thirst, frequent urination, and rapid weight loss; all symptoms of diabetes.
Diabetes According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
According to TCM, diabetes is caused by an imbalance of the cyclical flow of Qi within the meridians and organ systems.
This particular imbalance produces heat that depletes the body’s fluids and Qi causing symptoms such as: fatigue, lethargy, unexplained weight loss, excessive thirst (polydipsia), excessive urination (polyuria), excessive eating (polyphagia), poor wound healing, infections, irritability, and blurry vision.
In treating diabetes, TCM offers a way to address each patient individually to eliminate the symptoms associated with diabetes and reduce the need for insulin. The practitioner may choose to use a variety of techniques during treatment including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary recommendations, and energetic exercises. Treatment for diabetes focuses on regulating the circulation of blood and Qi and balancing the organ systems to improve pancreatic function and address internal heat and the depletion of fluids.
How Acupuncture Can Help Treat Diabetes
The acupuncture points used to treat diabetes are all over the body and on several meridians. A point on the back, called ‘Yishu’ (located on the back, lateral to thoracic vertebrae 8) is often used and has proven effective in recent studies published by the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine for controlling the function of the pancreas and blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
When treating diabetes, acupuncture can assist the body to regain its normal healthy functioning. Add acupuncture to your arsenal when fighting diabetes!
