Comparison between Electroacupuncture and Acupoint Injection for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

OBJECTIVE To compare the period and therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture and acupoint injection on patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.METHODS 68 patients acupunctured besides antidiabetic drugs administration,with 33 cases in acupuncture group and 35 cases of acupoint injection(mecobalamin).Clinical symptom score,nerve lesion score and overall efficacy were evaluated on Day 20,40 and 60 before and after treatment,respectively.RESULTS With treatment prolonged,symptom score showed a declining trend of the 2 groups,but 'Plateau' period was found during the treatment.The effect of acupoint injection showed later than electroacupuncture,yet lasted for a longer time.On the 20th day of treatment,electroacupuncture group saw higher effective rate than acupoint injection group(P0.05);while acupoint injection group was more effective than acupuncture group on Day 60(P0.05).Acupoint injection group in reducing symptoms of numbness is better than that of electroacupuncture(P0.05),and pain scores of electroacupuncture improved more than acupoint injection group(P0.05).CONCLUSION Both electroacupuncture and acupoint injection showed the same regulation of improving systemicand neuropathic symptoms,but with different clinical features.