OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture and tapping therapy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes of yin deficiency pattern combined with stasis in the patients.

METHODSOne hundred and twelve patients were treated with acupuncture, followed by tapping method. The reinforcing method with lifting, thrusting and rotating needle technique was used at Taixi (KI 3), Shenmen (HT 7), Taibai (SP 3), Taiyuan (LU 9), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36); and the even-needling technique was used at Taichong (LR 3), Hegu (LI 4), Xuehai (SP 10) and Fenglong (ST 40). The needles were remained for 30 min. After needle removal, the tapping method with plum-blossom needle was applied to Geshu (BL 17), Yishu (EX-B 3), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23) and Pishu (BL 20), once every two days. The treatment of 3 months was required. The changes were observed before and after treatment in the relevant indices of fat-islet axis such as fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting leptin (FLP), fasting insulin (FINS), insulin sensitivity index (ISI), insulin resistance (Homa IR), insulin secretion index (Homa-beta) and the indices of obesity and blood lipids in the patients.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the total effective rate was 84.8% (95/112), in which the efficacy on the stasis predominated syndrome was better than that of yin deficiency predominated syndrome [92.9% (52/56) vs 76.8% (43/56), P < 0.05]. Before treatment, FPG, FLP, FINS, Homa-IR, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), body mass, body mass index (BMI), fat percentage (F%) and obesity degree in the patients were higher obviously than those in the normal group (all P < 0.01); high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and ISI were lower than those in the normal group (both P < 0.01). After treatment, FPG, FLP, FINS, Homa-IR, TC, TG, LDL-C, body mass, BMI, F% and obesity degree were all reduced obviously as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.01). ISI and HDL-C were increased apparently (both P < 0.01). The efficacy on mild obesity was superior to that on moderate and severe obesity, and the efficacy in the young patients was better than that in the elderly, the efficacy in the males was better than that in the females, but the differences were not significant (all P > 0.05). The efficacy in the cases with 10 years duration of sickness was superior to those with over 10 years duration of sickness (P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and tapping therapy achieves the significant efficacy on type 2 diabetes of yin deficiency pattern combined with stasis and its effect mechanism is related to the positive regulation of glucose, lipid metabolism and fat-islet axis.