Effects of silkworm excrement ironing on peripheral neuropathy of type 2 diabetes mellitus with cold coagulation and blood stasis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of silkworm excrement ironing on blood levels of glucose, lipids and Hcy in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients with cold coagulation and blood stasis. Methods A total of 260 diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients with cold coagulation and blood stasis were randomly divided into the control group(n=130)and the observation group(n=130). Both groups were treated with oral methylcobalamin(500 μg, tid), and in addition, the observation group was given silkworm excrement ironing on areas of the limb with numbness and pain.Patients underwent one single course of treatment lasting 4 weeks.Blood levels of glucose, lipids and Hcy pre- and post-treatment were analyzed. Results Blood lipid profiles and hemorheology improved in both groups after treatment, compared with pre-treatment data, and greater improvement was seen in the observation group than in the control group(all P<0.05). Plasma Hcy levels decreased in both groups after treatment, compared with pre-treatment levels, and deeper decline was seen in the observation group than in the control group after treatment(all P<0.05). Conclusions Silkworm excrement ironing can effectively improve the blood glucose profile and lipid metabolism, reduce plasma Hcy levels and may exert beneficial preventive and therapeutic effects on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Key words: Diabetic neuropathies; Blood stasis