The Acupuncture Role in Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

This systemic review and meta-analysis showed that acupuncture treatment might be useful, effective and potentially safe complementary therapeutic tool in the management of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. However, these positive finding should be interpreted cautiously, due to the fact that all included trials have high risks of bias. The heterogeneity of the included trials prevents us making a firm conclusion. The robustness of the results of the included trials could not be determined due to the fact that the majority of the included trials were of 'inadequate methodology' and low study population with multiple methodological and reporting biases. To ensure evidence-based clinical practice, further rigorous sham placebo-controlled, randomized trials are critically needed. These prospective trials need to be large scale studies and fully compliant with the CONSORT, STRICTA statements as well as the new quality assessment tool used in this study (STRICTA-PLUS) to ensure high power and robustness as well as the clinical implications of their results. The therapeutic role of integrative medicine will expand the therapeutic tools of the contemporary medical practitioner.