TOPLINE: 

In adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight receiving insulin therapy, acupuncture reduced the daily insulin dose by about 13% compared with a sham treatment. A 3-month protocol resulted in a mean reduction of 5.3 IU in total daily insulin needs, indicating a possible insulin-sensitizing effect.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a randomized crossover trial to evaluate whether acupuncture could reduce the daily insulin dose required in 15 adults with T2D who were overweight.
• Participants had been on insulin therapy for at least 6 months, with a dose more than 20 IU per day, and had an A1c level below 69 mmol/mol.
• They were assigned to receive either acupuncture or sham treatment for 3 months, followed by a 1‑month washout, then crossed over to the alternate treatment.
• Insulin doses were adjusted weekly by a diabetologist blinded to treatment assignment based on patient-reported glucose self-monitoring, while lifestyle and non-insulin medications remained unchanged.

TAKEAWAY:

• Acupuncture was linked to a mean reduction of 5.3 IU in total daily insulin dose, representing a difference of −13% (P =.039) compared with sham treatment.
• No significant differences were observed between acupuncture and sham in mean daily doses of long-acting or short-acting insulin, A1c levels, and BMI.
• No serious adverse events occurred.

IN PRACTICE:

"This trial suggests that acupuncture may reduce the insulin dose in T2DM [type 2 diabetes] patients, supporting the hypothesis of an insulin-sensitizing effect," the authors wrote. 

SOURCE:

The study was led by Alessandro Milia and Giovanni Antonio Silverii, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy. It was published online on June 03, 2026, as a Research Letter, in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

LIMITATIONS:

The trial did not include specific measurements of insulin sensitivity. It was terminated after enrolling about half the planned sample, reducing the reliability of the findings. Moreover, the long-term treatment effects could not be assessed.

DISCLOSURES:

No specific funding was reported by the authors. Some authors disclosed serving on an advisory board, receiving speaking, consultancy fees or research contributions from various pharmaceutical companies.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.