(1) Body Acupuncture
Acupoints Selected: Weiwanxiashu (EX- B 3), Geshu (BL17), Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6).
Modification: For upper diabetes, Xinshu (BL15), Taiyuan (LU9) and Shaofu (HT 8) are added; for middle diabetes, Weishu (BL21) and Neiting (ST44) are added; for lower diabetes, Ganshu (BL 18), Taixi (KI3) and Taichong (LR 3) are added; for asthenia of both yin and yang, Guanyuan (CV 4) and Mingmen (GV 4) are added；for thirst and dry mouth, Lianquan (CV 23) and Chengjiang (CV 24) are added; for polyphagia, Zhongwan (CV 12) and Fenglong (ST 40) are added; for profuse sweating, Fuliu (KI7) is added; for blurred vision, Guangming (GB 37), Touwei (ST8) and Cuanzhu (BL 2) are added; for skin itching, Fengchi (GB 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Quchi (LI 11), Xuehai (SP 10) and Zhaohai (KI 6) are added.
Performance: Weiwanxiashu (EX- B 3), a key effective acupoint for treating diabetes, should be needled 0.5-0. 8 cun obliquely toward the spinal column with reinforcing needling technique. The rest acupoints is needled with reinforcing needling technique or mild reinforcing and reducing needling techniques.
(2) Ear Acupuncture
Acupoints Selected: Pancreas and gallbladder (CO11), Endocrine (CO18), Lung (CO14), Stomach (CO4), Kidney (CO10), Bladder (CO9), Thirst point (midpoint on the line joining External Nose and Ear Apex) and Hunger Point (External Nose).
Performance: Each time 3 - 4 acupoints are selected and needled with filiform needles and mild stimulation. Or Wangbuliuxingzi (Semen Vaccariae) is used for ear acupressure. The two ears are pressed in alternation.
(3) Acupoints Selected:
Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL20), Geshu (BL17), Shenshu (BL23), Sanjiaoshu (BL22), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6). Yuji (LU 10) is added if there are dry mouth, bitter taste and polydipsia. Weishu (BL21) and Fenglong (ST 40) are added if there is polyrexia. Guanyuan (CV 4) and Taixi (KI 3) are added if there are polyuria, lumbago, hectic fever and night sweating.
Action: Invigorating yin and purge heat.
Indication: Diabetes. Symptoms are dry mouth and throat, polydipsia, polyrexia and liability to hunger, polyuria, sweet urine or turbid yellow urine or urine as turbid as cream, emaciation. Other symptoms include discomfort sensation in the epigastrium, profuse sweating, dry stool; or dizziness, fatigue and tinnitus, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, emission and impotence, irritability with sick sensation; red tongue with little or yellow coating and slippery or small, stringy pulse.
Performance: Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL20) and Geshu (BL17) are needled 0.5 - 0.8 cun obliquely with normal reducing and nourishing techniques to generate a sore and heavy sensation in the local area.
Typical case:
Wu was a 60-year old female retired worker. Her first visit to the hospital: Sept. 1993. Admission record No. 0234. Complaints: Polyrexia, polyuria for over a year, lassitude, lumbago, blurred vision, loose stools 2 or 3 times daily and gradual emaciation. Tests: red tongue, whitish tongue coating, small sunken pulse; fasting blood-glucose: 9. 8 mmol/1, + + + glucose in urine; Western medicine's diagnosis: diabetes, typez. Diagnosis of TCM: diabetes (deficiency of renal qi and dysfunction of splenic transportation). Treatment was given with the above mentioned method: Shenshu (BL23), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) were needled with normal reducing and nourishing techniques. The needles were retained for 30 minutes.
Moxibustion was given for 10 minutes after withdrawal of the needles, once a day. 10 treatments made up a course. After the first course, only polyuria and loose stools were reduced, blood-glucose, glucose in urine and other symptoms were not changed too much. After the second course subjective symptoms were greatly relieved with blood glucose 7.5 mmol/1, + + glucose in urine. After the third course, subjective symptoms generally disappeared with blood glucose 4.7 mmol/1 and negative glucose in urine. After discharge both blood-glucose and glucose in urine were kept normal in the follow-ups for half a year.
