OBJECTIVETo explore the effect difference between the skin needle embedding therapy and western medication for obese impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

METHODSA total of 300 cases of obese IGT were assigned into an embedding group and a western medication group by random number table, 150 cases in each one. Standardized diagnosis and treatment programs were applied to reduce blood pressure, lipid, weight, and exercise and scientific diet management were used. 0.25 g oral deltamine was prescribed three times a day in the western medication group. Thumb-tack needle for subcutaneous embedding was at bilateral Weiwanxiashu (EX-B 3), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Tianshu (ST 25) and Zusanli (ST 36) for 36 to 48 hours on Monday and Thursday, 3 months as a session, with other acupoints differentiated. All the treatment was given for 2 years. The indexes included the blood sugar indexes [fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h postprandial blood glucose (2 h PG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)], incidence of hypoglycemia, obesity indexes [waist circumference, body mass index (BMI)], blood lipid indexes [serum total cholesterol (TC), serum triacylglycerol (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)], liver and kidney function indexes [serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood uric acid (UA), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT)] and TCM symptom score. The effects and the incidence of type 2 diabetes were evaluated.

RESULTSAfter treatment, 2 h PG and HbA1c reduced in the two groups (<0.01,<0.05) and the results in the embedding group were better (both<0.05). After treatment, the incidence of hypoglycemia in the embedding group was 0.7% (1/150), and that in the western medication group was 1.3% (2/150), without statistical difference (>0.05). After treatment, waist circumference and BMI reduced in the two groups (both<0.01) and the improvements in the embedding group were better (both<0.05). TC, TG and LDL-C after treatment were lower than those before treatment, and HDL-C were higher in the two groups (all<0.05), without statistical different values before and after treatment between the two groups (all>0.05). Scr, BUN, UA and ALT before and after treatment in the two groups had no statistical difference (all>0.05), without statistical difference after treatment between the two groups (all>0.05). The TCM score after treatment was lower than that before treatment in the embedding group (<0.05), and the difference was not statistical in the western medication group (>0.05). The different value of TCM score in the embedding group was better than that in the western medication group (<0.01). The total effective rate in the embedding group was 98.0% (147/150), which was superior to 92.7% (139/150) in the western medication group (<0.05). The incidence of type 2 diabetes was 2.0% (3/150) in the embedding group, and that was better than 7.3% (11/150) in the western medication group (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThumb-tack needle for subcutaneous embedding for 2 years could apparent improve the indexes of IGT, which is better than western medication, without liver and kidney damage.