Today, diabetes is a growing epidemic among children, young adults, and adults. This is a disease that we all need to be informed about and November is American Diabetes Awareness Month. Diabetes can be prevented and treated with various medications, food plans, lifestyle adjustments, and exercise. There is no known cure for this disease. Along with traditional treatment, we use acupuncture and Chinese herbs to effectively treat and prevent diabetes.
Diabetes, also referred to as diabetes mellitus, is a disease in which the body has a shortage of insulin, a decreased ability to use insulin, or both. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cells and to be converted to energy. Glucose is essential for the cells that make up our tissues and organs. Glucose is the brain’s main source of fuel-so it is essential for every living being to function and thrive. When diabetes is not treated and managed, the glucose and fats can remain in the blood and, over time, may damage vital organs (such as the kidneys).
There are three main types of diabetes:
Type 1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults (it was previously known as juvenile diabetes). In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Commonly seen symptoms of type 1 include:
>Unusual thirst>Extreme hunger
>Unusual weight loss
>Extreme fatigue and Irritability
>Frequent urination
Type 2 Diabetes is when either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
Commonly seen symptoms of type 2 include:
>Any of the type 1 symptoms
>Frequent infections
>Blurred vision
>Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
>Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
>Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections
*Often people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms
Gestational Diabetes develops during pregnancy, it is usually around the 24th week that many women are diagnosed with it. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes does not imply that a woman had diabetes before the pregnancy, or that she will have diabetes after giving birth. For most women, gestational diabetes subsides after giving birth. Although, it does put a new mommy at risk for future type 2 diabetes. It is important for one with gestational diabetes to manage it properly during the pregnancy as to prevent from having a c-section delivery. For most pregnant women, gestational diabetes does not cause the normal diabetes symptoms, therefore, it is necessary to be tested for it at week 24.
A condition known as “prediabetes” is when the blood sugar level is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes. Although, if not treated, it can easily become type 2. Often, prediabetes does not present with symptoms. Although a possible and common one may be darkened areas of the skin, such as the neck, elbows, and knees.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plays an important role in treating and preventing diabetes. In TCM, we use acupuncture and Chinese herbs to effectively manage the symptoms and to help prevent diabetes from furthering into an advanced stage of the disease. TCM recognizes specific patterns of the diabetes disease. One of the main patterns, which is also a distinctive pattern, is termed as “wasting-thirsting” disease. This presents with a deficiency of the yin the body. “Yin” is an energy that runs throughout the body and is essential for overall health and balance. The yin helps to keep the “yang” of the body in check. Yin and yang both have to be in balance for optimal well-being. Yin is cold in nature and so when we have a deficiency of it, we tend to have more hot symptoms-such as thirst, dry mouth and lips, and increased urination. These are classic symptoms of diabetes and the wasting-thirsting pattern of TCM. Acupuncture and herbs are used to treat these presenting symptoms. Acupuncture helps to tonify the yin and help to ease the “hot” symptoms. Specific herbs that may be chosen to treat the yin deficiency would be herbs with a cooling property.
By using acupuncture, we choose specific acupuncture point prescriptions to treat the presenting symptoms. We also use herbs to treat these symptoms. For example, acupuncture and herbs have a direct effect on our digestive system and our metabolism. Both of these are affected by diabetes and we see symptoms, such excessive thirst, excessive weight loss, and hunger. Acupuncture and herbs can help to regulate our hunger and help to manage the weight loss that may result from diabetes. Another common symptom of diabetes is neuropathy, which is a nerve disorder caused by the diabetes. These symptoms may include tingling, numbness, and pain of the arms, legs, hands, and feet. Acupuncture is wonderful in helping to relieve these symptoms, which usually develop for diabetes patients after 25 years or so.
From a study published in February 2011, the use of electro-acupuncture on a specific acupuncture point has shown to reduce blood glucose levels. The acupuncture point tested in this study is “Stomach-36”. This is a classic acupuncture point that is used for many indications, many of those including metabolism and digestion. The findings of the study indicate that electro-acupuncture on Stomach-36 decreases the blood sugar level by stimulating the cholinergic nerves and involving the adrenal glands, which signal insulin proteins. To read the full article, please go to this link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136799/?tool=pubmed
TCM can be used to prevent diabetes. If there is a family/medical history of diabetes, regular acupuncture can help to maintain the yin and yang of the body as to not allow imbalance to bring about diabetic symptoms. It is also beneficial with gestational diabetes in preventing it from worsening throughout the pregnancy and causing complications for mother and baby. Acupuncture plays a role in helping a woman carry her baby to full term with a healthy delivery.
It is ideal to begin prevention with children and young adults.
Along with a healthy diet, adequate exercise, TCM can help to manage and heal diabetes. By educating one another with the facts of this disease and the easy steps we can take to prevent it, the diabetes disease can be managed to further the health of our future.
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