Acupuncture in Patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy-Related Complaints: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Joanna Dietzel; Isabel V. Habermann; Sebastian Hörder; Katrin Hahn; Gesa Meyer-Hamme; Miriam Ortiz; Kevin Hua; Barbara Stöckigt; Marie Bolster; Weronika Grabowska; Stephanie Roll; Sylvia Binting; Stefan N. Willich; Sven Schröder; Benno Brinkhaus

doi:10.3390/jcm12062103

Journal of Clinical Medicine (Mar 2023)

Acupuncture in Patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy-Related Complaints: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Joanna Dietzel,
Isabel V. Habermann,
Sebastian Hörder,
Katrin Hahn,
Gesa Meyer-Hamme,
Miriam Ortiz,
Kevin Hua,
Barbara Stöckigt,
Marie Bolster,
Weronika Grabowska,
Stephanie Roll,
Sylvia Binting,
Stefan N. Willich,
Sven Schröder,
Benno Brinkhaus

Affiliations

Joanna Dietzel: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Isabel V. Habermann: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Sebastian Hörder: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katrin Hahn: Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Gesa Meyer-Hamme: HanseMerkur Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 64, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
Miriam Ortiz: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Kevin Hua: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Barbara Stöckigt: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Marie Bolster: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Weronika Grabowska: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Stephanie Roll: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Sylvia Binting: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Stefan N. Willich: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Sven Schröder: HanseMerkur Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 64, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
Benno Brinkhaus: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12062103
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 6
p. 2103

Abstract

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Background: Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes, which presents with a loss of sensorimotor function or pain. This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for DPN-related complaints. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, patients with type II diabetes and symptoms of neuropathy in the lower limbs were included. A total of 12 acupuncture treatments were administered over 8 weeks. The waitlist control group received the same acupuncture treatment starting at week 16 (after baseline). Results: A total of 62 patients were randomized (acupuncture group n = 31; control group n = 31). The primary outcome was overall complaints, and it was reduced with a significant difference of 24.7 on a VAS (CI 95% 14.8;34.7, p Conclusions: Acupuncture leads to a significant and lasting reduction in DPN-related complaints when compared to routine care and is well tolerated, with minor side effects.

Published in Journal of Clinical Medicine

ISSN: 2077-0383 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/jcm

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