Efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Bao P, Mi J, Yu Z, Liu L, Zhu Z, Liu S, Nan Z · Medicine · 2021 October 29

Objective

Diabetes has become a global public health problem and danger to human health. Diabetes is the main cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and lower limb amputation. According to the latest epidemiological survey and research, the overall prevalence of diabetes in mainland China is 11.2%, of which type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for more than 90% acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine have been widely used in the treatment of T2DM. However, we have not found a meta-analysis of their synergistic effects. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of T2DM.

Conclusions

This study will generate evidence-based data on the treatment of T2DM with acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine and will provide new ideas and treatment modalities to investigate in future research.

Critical Appraisal

Published research can offer valuable insights, but a paper’s conclusions may go beyond what its results support. Critical appraisal examines the methods, findings and limitations to clarify what can reasonably be concluded—and what remains uncertain.

This article has not yet been critically appraised by the Research Hub.

Learn more about Critical Appraisal