Acupuncture in the complementary treatment of type II diabetes mellitus: a clinical intervention applied by nurse acupuncturists.

The increasing incidence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in developing countries is a cause for concern. In Brazil, DM is considered the fourth leading cause of death and is associated with coronary and kidney diseases, lower limb amputations, and blindness, generating significant costs for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and social security. Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (PICS), including Acupuncture, are encouraged within the framework of health promotion strategies, in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and their complications. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Acupuncture as a complementary treatment to medication used in patients with type II DM, based on Nursing Diagnoses. This was a randomized, triple-blind, multicenter clinical trial. Six sessions of Laser Acupuncture were performed at weekly intervals. Data analysis showed that the group that underwent the intervention presented a significant decrease in postprandial glycemia, weight, BMI, and abdominal circumference compared to the placebo group. The intervention group also showed significant improvements in the Nursing Diagnoses identified before and after exposure compared to the placebo group. Thus, it was concluded that Acupuncture can be used as an effective nursing technology in the complementary treatment of type II DM.