A female patient, born in 1925, was admitted to the clinic with a diagnosis of severe insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) with weight loss, complicated by a trophic ulcer on the right foot and diabetic nephropathy. Comorbid pathology: cerebral atherosclerosis.
Complaints:
Severe pain in the right leg, leg swelling, non-healing ulcer on the right foot, thirst, severe weakness, dizziness, and hand tremors.
Medical history:
Diagnosed with diabetes for 20 years, but has been taking insulin only for the past 5 years at a daily dose of 32 units (four times a day: 8-10-8-6). The patient has received both inpatient and outpatient treatment multiple times and has undergone three surgeries for a non-healing trophic ulcer on the right foot (ulcer since 1996).
Objective data:
General condition: severe. Pale skin and visible mucous membranes, pasty face. Heart sounds muffled, accentuated second heart sound over the aorta. Blood pressure: 140/100 mmHg. The abdomen is bloated and slightly tense (flatulence). Pasternatsky's symptom is weakly positive on both sides. Leg swelling present. Postoperative wound on the right foot measuring 20x12 cm with smooth edges, discharging serous-purulent fluid.
Laboratory and instrumental findings:
Electroacupuncture findings:
Decreased indicators on biologically active points (BAPs) of the lymphatic system, lungs, large intestine, and nervous system. Sharply reduced indicators on the meridians of blood vessels, pancreas, spleen, stomach, and bladder. High readings on kidney and gallbladder meridians.
Treatment (34 days):
Results:
Clinical Observations:
The clinic monitored 151 diabetic patients, including 18 with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) and 133 with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM). Patients ranged in age from 12 to 75 years, with disease duration from newly diagnosed (4.6%) to 25 years. Despite prior therapy, all patients had elevated blood sugar levels (8.2 to 20.8 mmol/L), diabetic neuropathy, and micro/macroangiopathy (retinopathy, nephropathy – 84.6%). Non-healing trophic ulcers were observed in 10.6%, gangrene of the foot in 4%, fungal infections in 8%, and 5 male patients reported impotence.
Infrared (IR) therapy was used to provide anti-inflammatory effects, improve microcirculation, and normalize immune function. The type of IR emitter was selected via electroacupuncture findings (EAF).
Daily procedures included:
Patient response:
Complaints:
Severe pain in the right leg, leg swelling, non-healing ulcer on the right foot, thirst, severe weakness, dizziness, and hand tremors.
Medical history:
Diagnosed with diabetes for 20 years, but has been taking insulin only for the past 5 years at a daily dose of 32 units (four times a day: 8-10-8-6). The patient has received both inpatient and outpatient treatment multiple times and has undergone three surgeries for a non-healing trophic ulcer on the right foot (ulcer since 1996).
Objective data:
General condition: severe. Pale skin and visible mucous membranes, pasty face. Heart sounds muffled, accentuated second heart sound over the aorta. Blood pressure: 140/100 mmHg. The abdomen is bloated and slightly tense (flatulence). Pasternatsky's symptom is weakly positive on both sides. Leg swelling present. Postoperative wound on the right foot measuring 20x12 cm with smooth edges, discharging serous-purulent fluid.
Laboratory and instrumental findings:
- CBC: RBC – 3.9, WBC – 9.2, lymphocytes – 44%, ESR – 22 mm/h.
- Blood glucose: 12 mmol/L, Urine glucose: 3%.
- ECG: pronounced dystrophic changes in the myocardium, left ventricular hypertrophy.
- Fundus examination: phonosclerosis, retinal vessel angiopathy, narrowed arteries, tortuous veins, thrombosis of small venous vessels, visual acuity: OD/OS 0.6/0.6.
Electroacupuncture findings:
Decreased indicators on biologically active points (BAPs) of the lymphatic system, lungs, large intestine, and nervous system. Sharply reduced indicators on the meridians of blood vessels, pancreas, spleen, stomach, and bladder. High readings on kidney and gallbladder meridians.
Treatment (34 days):
- GI therapy: general, starting with 20 minutes and increasing daily to 40 minutes for 18 days.
- RC therapy: general, increasing from 1.5x2 min to 3x2 min over 16 days.
- AF therapy: general, 10-15 minutes.
- KL therapy: local (heels: 5-20 min, pancreas: 5 min in two projections).
- ZB therapy: general, 10 min once a week.
Results:
- The trophic ulcer on the right foot healed.
- Insulin dose reduced to 13 units/day (three doses: 4-5-4).
- Blood glucose decreased to 7.2 mmol/L, urine glucose absent.
- CBC: Hb – 102 g/L, RBC – 4.2, WBC – 6.8, ESR – 16 mm/h.
- Fundus examination: retinal angiopathy, moderate vein dilation and tortuosity, isolated microaneurysms, visual acuity: OD/OS 0.8/0.8.
- Electroacupuncture indicators normalized.
Clinical Observations:
The clinic monitored 151 diabetic patients, including 18 with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) and 133 with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM). Patients ranged in age from 12 to 75 years, with disease duration from newly diagnosed (4.6%) to 25 years. Despite prior therapy, all patients had elevated blood sugar levels (8.2 to 20.8 mmol/L), diabetic neuropathy, and micro/macroangiopathy (retinopathy, nephropathy – 84.6%). Non-healing trophic ulcers were observed in 10.6%, gangrene of the foot in 4%, fungal infections in 8%, and 5 male patients reported impotence.
- Average blood glucose levels: IDDM – 12.9±2.9 mmol/L, NIDDM – 10.9±3.2 mmol/L.
- Daily insulin dose before treatment: 20 to 60 units.
- Most NIDDM patients: on oral hypoglycemic drugs.
Infrared (IR) therapy was used to provide anti-inflammatory effects, improve microcirculation, and normalize immune function. The type of IR emitter was selected via electroacupuncture findings (EAF).
Daily procedures included:
- Regulation of the autonomic nervous system and pancreatic function
- Metabolic normalization
- Treatment of chronic infections
- Microcirculation improvement
- Duration: 12-24 days
Patient response:
- Significant improvement by day 7-8
- Thirst and dry mouth disappeared
- Increased energy and work capacity
- By week 2, stabilized blood glucose: NIDDM: 5.2±2.8 mmol/L, IDDM: 8.45±2.4 mmol/L
- Angiopathy and neuropathy symptoms resolved in 4.6% of patients, significantly reduced in others
- 100% healing of trophic ulcers
- Gangrene cases: reduced need for surgery
- Fungal infections: completely treated
- Impotence: significant improvement
- NIDDM patients: many stopped or reduced oral medication
- IDDM patients: 6 patients reduced insulin dose by 10±5 units/day