OBJECTIVETo observe the effect and safety of acupoint catgut embedding for prediabetes.

METHODSEighty-six patients with prediabetes were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 43 cases in each one. Diabetes health education was applied in the two groups. Catgut embedding was used at bilateral Pishu (BL 20), Weiwanxiashu (EX-B 3), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), and Zusanli (ST 36) in the observation group, once every 15 days for 6 times. The type and number of postoperative reactions of the last time had been recorded since the second embedding, and the situation of the last postoperative reactions was observed 15 days after treatment. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 hours postprandial blood glucose (2hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), empty stomach insulin (Ins) and TCM syndrome score were tested before and after treatment as well as 6 months after treatment. The clinical efficacy was evaluated.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the levels of TC, TG, FPG, 2hPG, HbA1c of the observation group were lower than those before treatment and those of the control group (all<0.05). The Ins changed little after treatment and was not significantly different from that of the control group (both>0.05). All the above indices had no significant difference at follow-up compared with those before treatment (all>0.05). After treatment, the TCM syndrome score in the observation group was lower than that before treatment and that in the control group (both<0.05). The TCM syndrome score at follow-up was better than that before treatment in the observation group (<0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was 76.7% (33/43) after treatment, which was superior to 30.2% (13/43) of the control group (<0.05). The rates at follow-up was 37.2% (16/43) in the observation group and was 25.6% (11/43) in the control group (>0.05). 18 postoperative reactions occurred 168 times totally after embedding, which could be divided into 5 categories, including 75 times (44.6%) of dietary inhibition, 41 times (24.4%) of abnormal feeling, 23 times (13.7%) of local discomfort, 21 times (12.5%) of general malaise, and 8 times (4.8%) of other symptoms. The postoperative peak responses were after the second and third operations.

CONCLUSIONS3-month catgut embedding can improve some of the indices of prediabetes, but long-term healthy living habits need to be kept. There exist various postoperative reactions after embedding without blocking the treatment.