[Effects of different frequencies of electroacupuncture on blood glucose level in impaired glucose tolerance patients].

To Investigate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) at different frequencies for patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

METHODS:
A total of 120 IGT outpatients were randomly divided into control, EA-5 Hz, EA-50 Hz, and EA-100 Hz groups (n = 30/group). EA (1 mA) was applied to bilateral Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL23), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) for 20 min, once daily for 60 sessions. Body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and 2-hour post-prandial blood glucose (2 h PBG) contents were detected by using BAYER Blood Sugar Analyzer and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) content was detected by enzymatic assay.

RESULTS:
Following the treatment, both HbA1c and 2 h PBG levels in the EA-5 Hz group were significantly lower than those of the control group and those of pre-treatment in the same one group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between the EA-5 Hz and control groups, between pre-treatment and post-treatment in the EA-5 Hz group in BMI and FBG levels; between the EA-50 Hz and control groups, between the EA-100 Hz and control groups, and between pre-treatment and post-treatment in the EA-50 Hz and EA-100 Hz groups in BMI, FBG,2 h PBG and HbA1c levels (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:
Lower frequency EA of BL 20, BL 23, ST 36 and SP 9 can reduce HbA1c and 2 h PBG levels in IGT patients, suggesting a helpful effect of EA in controlling the development of diabetes.

PMID: 21793389