8.9 Metabolic Disorders
273
Description
■ Glucose metabolism disorder with complete or relative lack of insulin
■ Main forms:
– Type 1 diabetes: develops during childhood or early adulthood, often progresses
quickly to complete lack of insulin
– Type 2 diabetes: formerly also known as adult-onset diabetes; the ability to synthe-
size insulin remains but there is relative lack of it; often occurs in conjunction with
obesity
■ Symptoms: during the early stages increased thirst, otherwise unspecific symptoms
such as skin infections, sexual dysfunction in men, menstrual problems, fatigue
■ Complications during the advanced stages include: polyneuropathy, eye disorders, kid-
ney disorders
Point Prescription
French points
■ Local points:
Pancreas Tail
(
›
6.4.1),
Endocrine Pancreas
(
›
6.6.1)
■ Stabilising point:
Point Zero
(
›
6.10.3),
Laterality Point
(
›
6.8.6)
■ Also see Obesity (
›
8.8.4)
Chinese points
■ Local point:
Pancreas/Gallbladder (96)
(
›
6.4.1)
Acupuncture is only indicated for non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes. Auricular acu-
puncture cannot compensate for the damaged beta cells in insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus.
Treatment Intervals
■ Once weekly until oral diabetes medication can be reduced (slow reduction of diabetes
medication with close monitoring of blood sugar levels [daily or every other day])
■ Then 2–3 times monthly until blood sugar levels reach stable normal to borderline val-
ues
■ Then approximately once monthly to keep blood sugar levels stable
Treatment Course and Prognosis
■ Depending on patient compliance approximately 6 months until blood sugar levels
reach stable normal to borderline values
Weight loss and a diet low in sugar improve the prognosis!
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