A randomized trial on the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) has been demonstrated to be beneficial in glycemic control in animal models, but its application in humans has not been well studied. We randomly assigned 160 patients with type 2 diabetes on oral antidiabetic drugs 1:1 to the TENS study device (n = 81) and placebo (n = 79). 147 (92%) randomized participants (mean [SD] age 59 [10] years, 92 men [58%], mean [SD] baseline HbA1c level 8.1% [0.6%]) completed the trial. At week 20, HbA1c decreased from 8.1% to 7.9% in the TENS group (− 0.2% [95% CI − 0.4% to − 0.1%]) and from 8.1% to 7.8% in the placebo group (− 0.3% [95% CI − 0.5% to − 0.2%]) (P = 0.821). Glycemic variability, measured as mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE) at week 20 were significantly different in the TENS group vs. the placebo group (66 mg/dL [95% CI 58, 73] vs. 79 mg/dL [95% CI 72, 87]) (P = 0.009). Our study provides the clinical evidence for the first time in humans that TENS does not demonstrate a statistically significant HbA1c reduction. However, it is a safe complementary therapy to improve MAGE in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Targeting BDNF with acupuncture: A novel integrated strategy for diabetes and depression comorbidity

“…TENS did not show a statistically significant decrease in glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). However, TENS improves the mean amplitude of glycemic excursion in patients with T2DM and can be a safe complementary therapy [ 48 ]. The combination of metformin and acupuncture is more effective than metformin alone, demonstrating that acupuncture may improve insulin sensitivity by reducing weight and inflammation, while improving lipid metabolism and adipokines.…”