Acupuncture for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Patient with Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Report

Publication date: Available online 18 May 2017 Source:Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Yun Jin Kim Myasthenia Gravis is an acquired disease of the neuromuscular junction characterized by muscular weakness and fatigue, with a prevalence of 50 to 125 cases per million population in Western countries. In males, it usually appears after the age of 60 while in females, it usually appears before the age of 40. Long-term immunosuppression with corticosteroids is the mainstay treatment for patients with myasthenia gravis; however, the use of corticosteroids is a well-documented risk factor of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which has also been reported in steroid-treated patients with myasthenia gravis. Here, a case of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a patient with myasthenia gravis who underwent 105 sessions of acupuncture delivered over 6 months is reported. After acupuncture treatment, the patient’s fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels, as well as the score on the Hamilton depression rating scale, were decreased. Furthermore, no adverse effects were observed. The findings in this clinical study are encouraging and provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing type 2 diabetes mellitus in a patient with myasthenia gravis.
Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research