Acupuncture in the treatment of diabetic bladder dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture on diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD). METHODS This study compared 30 cases in the acupuncture group with 15 cases in the sham acupuncture group (n = 45 total). The effects of acupuncture were observed on urodynamic measurements, as well as a variety of symptoms associated with DBD. RESULTS In the acupuncture group, five of the six urodynamic measures (maximal detrusor pressure, bladder compliance, maximal bladder capacity, bladder volume at desire to void and urge to void) demonstrated significant improvement (p < 0.05, 0.01) over the 15-day treatment period. Only one measure (bladder volume at urge to void) significantly improved (p < 0.05) in the sham acupuncture group. There were significant differences after therapy in four measures (bladder compliance, maximal bladder capacity, bladder volume at desire to void, and urge to void) between the groups (p < 0.05, 0.01). A significant difference of the changes in symptoms compared with pretreatment in the acupuncture group was observed (p < 0.05, 0.01). In 25 subjects in the acupuncture group, incontinence improved from 2.4 to 1.4. In the sham acupuncture group, incontinence deteriorated from 2.2 to 2.3. CONCLUSIONS Our pilot study has provided evidence that acupuncture may be clinically useful for the radical treatment of DBD.