Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture in the Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Summary

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes mellitus, which mainly manifests symmetric pain, numbness, ankylosis, or with abdominal distension, abnormal sweating, and accompanied by glove-sock-like hyperalgesia or loss of sensation as the main symptom, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Although drug treatment has some effect, from the overall long-term perspective, long-term medication is easy to produce drug dependence, and often easy to cause ataxia, blurred vision, constipation, diplopia, nausea and other adverse drug reactions. Electroacupuncture treatment for DPN has certain advantages, with clear efficacy and no toxic side effects, and is being increasingly recognised by the public and professionals. The study is designed to observe the therapeutic effect and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of DPN.

Conditions

• Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Basal therapy+EA

1. Participants are not set up with uniform medication. High blood sugar is controlled by hypoglycaemic drugs, patients with hypertension and hyperlipidaemia can take antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, while other drugs are based on the patient's current medication. 2. Main acupoints: Qihai (RN6), Guanyuan (RN4), Xuehai (SP10), Yanglingquan (GB34), Zusanli (T36), Yinlingquan (SP9), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Xuanzhong (GB39), Jiexi (ST41), Zulinqi (GB41), Taichong (SP41). Supporting acupoints: for pain in the upper limbs, add Baxie, Quchi (LI11), Shousanli (LI10), Hegu (LI4), and Ashixue; for pain in the lower limbs, add Bafeng, Neiting (ST44),Kunlun (BL60). Operation: Acupuncture needles of size 25\*40mm will be used. The electrode will be connected Yanglingquan (GB34) and Sanyinjiao (SP6), electrode wire will be connected to the electro-acupuncture apparatus using continuous wave with a frequency of 2Hz at an intensity suitable for the comfort of the subject.

OTHER

Basal therapy

Participants are not set up with uniform medication. High blood sugar is controlled by hypoglycaemic drugs, patients with hypertension and hyperlipidaemia can take antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, while other drugs are based on the patient's current medication.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

  collaborator OTHER

• The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

  collaborator OTHER

• Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

  lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

• Jianqiao Fang, Ph.D,M.D · Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

85 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-10-31

Primary Completion

2025-06-01

Completion

2025-12-31

Countries

• China

Study Locations