Clinical study on acupuncture combined with western medication for diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Objective: To compare the clinical effect differences between western medication, acupuncture, and acupuncture combine with western medication in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods: Ninety-three patients were randomized into western medication group, acupuncture group, and combination group, with 31 cases in each. The patients in western medication group were treated with lipoic acid injection and mecobalamin injection/tablets. The patients in acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture, and the acupoints were selected according to the symptoms. The needles were retained for 30 min, once a day. The patients in combination group were treated with both western medication and acupuncture, specific methods as the above. The treatments were for 18 days in succession in all of three group. The motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of median nerve and common peroneal nerve, as well as the changes of symptoms and signs of patients were observed before and after treatment. The clinical effect was evaluated. Results: After treatment, the median nerve MNCV in the three groups, the median nerve SNCV and common peroneal nerve MNCV in acupuncture group and combination groups, and the common peroneal nerve SNCV in acupuncture group were all higher than those of before treatment, with significantly statistical differences (all P < 0.05). After treatment, the MNCV and SNCV of median nerve and common peroneal nerve in combination group were higher than those in western medication group and acupuncture group, with significantly statistical differences (all P < 0.05). After treatment, the number of patients in the three groups with the symptoms and signs was lower than that of before treatment. The effective rate in combination group was 96.8% (30/31), higher than those of western medication group, 74.2% (23/31), and acupuncture group, 83.8% (26/31), with significantly statistical differences (both P < 0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with western medication in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy can improve the nerve conduction velocity and improve the symptoms and signs of diabetic patients, with a better effect than those of western medication and simple acupuncture. (C) 2021 World Journal of Acupuncture Moxibustion House. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.