Effect of Cupping Therapy on Glycemic Control in Type II Diabetic Patients

Abstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders in which there are high blood glucose levels over a prolonged period. If left untreated, diabetes can cause many complications [13]. Acute complications can include diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, or death [2]. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular dis-ease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, foot ulcers, and damage to the eyes [12].
Purpose: To study the effect of cupping therapy on glyc-emic control in diabetic patients.
Methods: Thirty type 2 diabetic patients were selected from Internal Medicine Department of Central Berket El-Sabaa Hospital to determine the effect of cupping therapy on glycemic control in diabetic patients. The practical work was done in the duration between July 2014 till September 2014.
They were diagnosed with specialized physician as T2DM patients, their age ranged from (45-55 years) and they were randomly divided into two groups equal in number. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups (A&B); each group consisted of fifteen patients. Parameters measured from both groups were HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, postprandial plasma glucose level. Group (A) performed aerobic training for three sessions every week for 3 months and cupping therapy one time a month for 3 months while group (B) performed aerobic exercise only. Both groups were under medical treatment.
Results: There was a significance decrease in HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, and post prandial blood glucose in group A compared with group B post treatment. The percent of improvement of HbA1 c, fasting blood glucose, post prandial plasma glucose for group (A) was 30.13%, 14.08%, and 23.62% and for group (B) was 18.97%, 13.03%, and 16.26% respectively. The significance decrease in the mean values post treatment (p=0.02), (0.04), (0.3).
Conclusion: Using cupping therapy combined with aerobic exercise is superior to aerobic exercises only regarding glyc-emic control in type 2 diabetic patients.