Different Amounts of Moxibustion in the Treatment of DPN: A Clinical RCT Study

Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Moxibustion; Randomized Controlled Trial; Pain; Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Treatments: Other: Moxibustion

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06330233

YJiang

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to provide moxibustion treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and a reference for clinical treatment of DPN moxibustion. Patients will be randomly assigned to 3 clinical centers, 30 in each center, and then equally divided into 3 groups, including a drug treatment group, a 15-minute moxibustion group, and a 30-minute moxibustion group. Patients in the drug treatment group were given mecobalamin tablets and epalrestat at the same time of daily treatment (hypertension and hyperlipidemia combined with basic drug treatment) for 4 weeks. The frequency of moxibustion was 15/30 minutes per acupoint twice a week for 4 weeks. The results were evaluated during the baseline period (the day before the grouping), the treatment period (the end of the 8th treatment), and the follow-up period (a month after the end of treatment). The results of this part are expected to confirm the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The results of this part will be expected to confirm the optimal amount of moxibustion in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuralgia and provide a reference for the standardization of clinical treatment of moxibustion.

Enrollment: 90 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. History of diabetes mellitus;
2. Persistent pain and/or abnormal sensation in the extremities (at least in both lower limbs), decreased bilateral or unilateral ankle reflexes, decreased vibratory sensation (weaker in the medial ankle than in the medial tibial condyle), and decreased nerve conduction velocity on the affected side, and TCSS score >5;
3. 18 years ≤ age ≤ 80 years;
4. Gender is not limited;
5. Those who have the ability of independent daily life and can cooperate to complete all the examinations;
6. Those who are conscious without serious mental diseases and cognitive disorders, and those who do not have serious cardiac, cerebral, hepatic, renal and other internal diseases;
7. Voluntary participation and signing of informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

1. Those with peripheral neuropathy, ulcers and gangrene of the limbs caused by various other reasons (e.g. hypothyroidism, alcohol, drugs, heredity, etc.), or those with a history of skin ulcers or lesions that do not heal easily;
2. Women who are in preparation for pregnancy, during pregnancy or breastfeeding;
3. Those with acute complications such as combined diabetic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, severe infections, etc.;
4. Those who suffer from serious liver or kidney damage or serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, multiple cerebral infarctions, cerebral haemorrhage, etc.);
5. Those who have scars or pigmentation on the skin of the testing site, which will affect the accuracy of the test;
6. Those who are participating in other acupuncture or drug clinical trials.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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90 participants in 3 patient groups

Drug treatment group

Sham Comparator group

Description:

mecobalamin tablets (0.5 mg/dose, 3 times/day) and epalrestat (0.5g/, 3 times/day, before meal) were administered orally for four weeks in conjunction with the patient's daily treatment (basal medication treatment for patients with combined hypertension and hyperlipidemia).

Treatment:

Other: Moxibustion

Moxibustion 15 minutes group

Experimental group

Description:

The selected acupoints of moxibustion are Zusanli(ST 36), Sanyinjiao(SP 6), Quchi(LI 11) and Kunlun(BL 60), moxa cones were pasted on the acupoints and moxibustion was applied by ignition, each time for 15 minutes at each acupoint, once every three days, twice a week, four consecutive weeks of treatment.

Treatment:

Other: Moxibustion

Moxibustion 30 minutes group

Experimental group

Description:

The selected acupoints of moxibustion are Zusanli(ST 36), Sanyinjiao(SP 6), Quchi(LI 11) and Kunlun(BL 60), moxa cones were pasted on the acupoints and moxibustion was applied by ignition, each time for 30 minutes at each acupoint, once every three days, twice a week, four consecutive weeks of treatment.

Treatment:

Other: Moxibustion