The World Health Organization states that the number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 30.3 million Americans who have diabetes (2015) and approximately 1.25 million American adults and children have type 1 diabetes. From the 30.3 million diabetic adults, 7.2 million were undiagnosed. In 2017, the total costs of diagnosed diabetes in the United States reached $327 billion, which is 2.3 times higher than what expenditures would be in the absence of diabetes.
Why We Should Take Diabetes Seriously
Diabetes deliberately affects an individual, as it is a disease in which the body has an impaired ability to produce or respond to hormonal insulin. This results to abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine. Having too much glucose in your blood can cause several health problems, which includes heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, eye problems, dental disease, nerve damage, and foot problems.
Type 1 diabetes refers to the inability of the body to make insulin. The immune system attacks and destroys pancreatic cells that make insulin. People who are type 1 diabetics need to take insulin everyday to survive. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes refers to the body’s impaired functioning in making or using insulin. Other types of diabetes are gestational diabetes (pregnant women), monogenic diabetes (inherited), and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.
At the moment, diabetes has no cure, but you can definitely take steps to manage your blood sugar levels and stay healthy.
How Acupuncture for Diabetes Can Help
There are several studies which show that acupuncture can help relieve diabetes symptoms. Acupuncture can be used alongside regular medication, and in some cases it works better than pharmaceutical drugs or treatments. You’ll also find that in China these days, acupuncture for diabetes is quite common. The journal Acupuncture in Medicine conducted a literature review of articles from 2008 – 2016, and found that low intensity and low-frequency electroacupuncture can help reduce insulin resistance and increase insulin sensitivity. There’s also a group of studies which show that taking metformin as medication together with electroacupunture treatments offered better glucose lowering effects and greater insulin sensitivity than taking metformin alone.
Acupuncture Treatment Methods for Diabetes
Acupuncture stimulates points in your body with thin and sterile needles. These specific body points are targeted to treat the root cause of the health issue and bring back a healthy balance in your body.
One type of acupuncture that is used to help treat diabetes is a Wrist-Ankle Treatment. It involves deep needle stimulation of the wrist and ankle nerves. It’s helpful in treating diabetic peripheral neuritis, which is a resulting nerve damage from the disease.
Our licensed acupuncturist, Tram Pham, also prescribes herbs to manage blood glucose levels. As a result of a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs, patients can manage diabetes more effectively.
Consult With A Licensed Acupuncturist For a Holistic Treatment
Santa Barbara Herb Clinic offers a wide variety of natural healing treatments, including acupuncture for diabetes. Book a consultation now with our licensed acupuncturist. Our acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine practitioner will then give a thorough assessment of your symptoms. Afterward, she’ll create a treatment plan specifically for your health needs. A prescription of herbs and recommendations on diet and lifestyle will also be provided. We also offer phone and video consultations, plus shipping of herbal remedies wherever you are. Take the first step towards achieving optimum health and wellness with our clinic specialties.
References
Diabetes | World Health Organization – http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes
Does Acupuncture For Diabetes Work? Lana Barhum – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319618.php
Statistics About Diabetes | American Diabetes Association – http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/
What Is Diabetes? | National Institure of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases – https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes
