Objective:

2

To investigate the effect of compound laser acupuncture-moxibustion on blood glucose

fasting insulin and blood lipids levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats.

Methods:

2

Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups

including the normal group

model control group

laser group and sham laser group (

n

=10 per group). The rats in the normal group were fed with a standard diet. Rats in other groups were fed with a high-sugar and high-fat diet for 4 weeks

then intraperitoneally injected with 1% streptozotocin to induce T2DM model. The laser group was irradiated by 10.6 μm and 650 nm compound laser on bilateral Pishu (BL 20)

Shenshu (BL 23) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for 5 min

6 times a week for 5 weeks. The sham laser group received the same treatment as the laser group

but without laser output. The model control group and normal group were not treated. Blood glucose levels were measured before and after 1

2

3

4 and 5 weeks of treatment. The serum levels of fasting insulin

total cholesterol (TC)

triglyceride (TG)

low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were analyzed after the last treatment.

Results:

2

The blood glucose levels in the model control group increased during the 5 weeks of treatment compared with the normal group (

P

<

0.05)

while those in the laser group were significantly lower than the model control group after weekly treatment (

P

<

0.01 or

P

<

0.05). After 1

2 and 3 weeks of treatment

the blood glucose levels in the laser group decreased obviously compared with the sham laser group (

P

<

0.01 or

P

<

0.05). Compared with the normal group

the levels of fasting insulin

TC and LDL in the model control group notably increased (

P

<

0.01 or

P

<

0.05)

while their levels in the laser group were significantly lower than the model control group after 5 weeks of treatment (

P

<

0.05 or

P

<

0.01). However

no statistically significant differences were observed in TG or HDL levels among the 4 groups (

P

>

0.05).

Conclusion:

2

The compound laser acupuncture-moxibustion of 10.6 μm and 650 nm had positive effects on the regulation of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in T2DM rats

which may be a potential treatment for T2DM

and also provide an alternative to the traditional acupuncture and moxibustion therapy.