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“Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood.”
Diabetes affects more than 20 million Americans. Over 40 million Americans have pre-diabetes (early type 2 diabetes).
There are many risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including:
High blood levels of glucose can cause several problems, including:
However, because type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar experience no symptoms at all.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes:
Patients with type 1 diabetes usually develop symptoms over a short period of time. The condition is often diagnosed in an emergency setting.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes:
A urine analysis may be used to look for glucose and ketones from the breakdown of fat. However, a urine test alone does not diagnose diabetes.
The following blood tests are used to diagnose diabetes:
Persons with diabetes need to have their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level checked every 3 – 6 months. The HbA1c is a measure of average blood glucose during the previous 2 – 3 months. It is a very helpful way to determine how well treatment is working.
Have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked each year (aim for LDL levels below 100 mg/dL)
Again, Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the risk for death is approximately twice that of persons of similar age without diabetes.
The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. Complications of diabetes include heart disease, hypertension, eye problems, kidney disease, nervous system disease, periodontal disease, amputation, fatigue, depression, and complications during pregnancy.
In order to manage diabetes, it is essential for people to make healthy lifestyle choices in diet, exercise, and other health habits. Another important factor when treating diabetes is creating a support team of health care professionals. This support team may include your primary doctor, an eye doctor, nurses, a dietitian, and a licensed acupuncturist.
In Asian Medicine, a thousand years ago, when the physicians didn’t even know about the blood sugar, insulin or all the mechanisms behind the disease, they called it in general, xiao ke(wasting and thirsting syndrome) and categorized this into three different names based on the main symptoms.
upper xiao –increased thirst
And those physicians thought that diabetes is caused by an imbalance of the cyclical flow of Qi within the meridians and organ systems and even there was the thought of oily and heavy food causing this disease and recommending “be frugal and moderate!” as we now know that the primary culprit of type 2 diabetes are the wrong diet and lifestyle and this is the disease of affluence in this country.
This particular imbalance produces heat that depletes the body’s fluids and Qi causing symptoms such as:
In treating diabetes, Asian medicine offers a way to address each patient individually to eliminate the symptoms associated with diabetes and reduce the need for insulin.
A variety of techniques may be used during treatment including acupuncture, herbal medicine, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and energetic exercises. The treatment for diabetes focuses on regulating the circulation of blood and Qi and balancing the organ systems to improve pancreatic function and address internal heat and the depletion of fluids. When treating diabetes, acupuncture and asian medicine can assist the body to regain its normal healthy functioning.
Acupuncture Treatment
Generally used meridians in treating diabetes are;
Stomach –st36, 44
Spleen – sp9, 6, 4, 3
Kidney- kd6, kd 3, kd 10
Ren meridian – ren 12, ren 4.
Even in Master Tong’s Acupunture, these meridians are the primary such as xia san huang, tong shen, tong wei, shui jin, shui tong, shang san huang, zhu san li, shen guan.
And also auriculo-acupuncture can be effectively used together.