Diabetes is managed over a lifetime with medicine, diet, exercise and regular testing. Acupuncture does not replace any of these, and it is not a cure for diabetes.
What it offers is support: help with the symptoms that often come with diabetes, and with the stress, poor sleep and tiredness that make blood sugar harder to control.
What people come to us with
- Burning, tingling or numbness in the feet and hands (diabetic neuropathy)
- Tiredness and low energy
- Poor sleep and stress
- Aches and stiffness that make exercise difficult
- Digestive discomfort
How treatment is approached
Treatment is planned around your main complaints. Acupressure and sujok are used often here, since they are gentle and involve little or no needling.
Because skin heals more slowly in diabetes, particular care is taken with the feet and lower legs. Please bring your recent sugar reports and a list of your medicines to the first visit.
Therapies used: acupressure, sujok therapy, acupuncture.
What to expect
Some people report less nerve discomfort, better sleep and more energy. Research on acupuncture and blood sugar itself is still limited and mixed, so no promise is made about your readings.
Keep taking your medicines or insulin exactly as prescribed, and continue your regular tests. Any change in medication is decided only by your doctor.
See a doctor first if you have
- Very high or very low sugar readings, confusion, or fruity-smelling breath
- A wound or ulcer on the foot that is not healing
- Sudden change in vision
- Chest pain or breathlessness
Common questions
Can acupuncture cure diabetes?
No. Diabetes is managed, not cured, and acupuncture is supportive care alongside your medical treatment.
Can I reduce my diabetes medicine if I feel better?
Not on your own. Only your doctor should change your dose, based on your test results.
Is needling safe for people with diabetes?
It can be, with care. Needling is avoided where the skin is fragile or sensation is reduced, and needle-free methods such as acupressure and sujok are used instead.