[Skin needle embedding for obese impaired glucose tolerance]

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Metabolic Disorders
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Background:

• Obesity and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are significant risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
• Effective management strategies are crucial for preventing diabetes progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of skin needle embedding therapy versus Western medication in managing obese patients with IGT.
• To evaluate the impact on glycemic control, obesity indices, and metabolic parameters.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 300 obese IGT patients, divided into skin needle embedding and Western medication groups.
• Treatment duration was 2 years, with comprehensive monitoring of blood glucose, lipids, obesity markers, and TCM symptom scores.
• Skin needle embedding involved acupoint insertion for 36-48 hours, twice weekly.

Main Results:

• The skin needle embedding group showed significant improvements in 2-hour postprandial glucose (2h PG) and HbA1c compared to the Western medication group.
• Obesity indices, including waist circumference and BMI, were significantly reduced in the embedding group.
• The incidence of type 2 diabetes was lower in the skin needle embedding group (2.0%) than in the Western medication group (7.3%).

Conclusions:

• Thumb-tack needle subcutaneous embedding therapy is a superior treatment for obese IGT patients, improving key metabolic and glycemic indicators.
• This TCM approach demonstrates significant benefits over Western medication without adverse effects on liver or kidney function.
• Skin needle embedding therapy offers a safe and effective alternative for managing IGT and potentially preventing type 2 diabetes.