Research Progress on Acupuncture Therapy as an Adjuvant Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

With the prosperous development of China’s economy and comprehensive social progress, the quality of life for its citizens has significantly improved. However, this positive transformation has been accompanied by a quiet rise in diabetes prevalence. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, resulting from absolute or relative insulin deficiency and impaired insulin utilization. Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is the most prevalent form. Concurrently, traditional Chinese medicine boasts a long-standing history of therapeutic practices. Among these, acupuncture has accumulated extensive experience in treating diabetes. This therapy demonstrates favorable efficacy in managing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its complications while exhibiting minimal side effects. Therefore, a systematic review of research on acupuncture for treating T2DM is conducted to explore novel therapeutic options for patients and to provide fresh insights for refining and optimizing healthcare systems.