Diabetes, How Acupuncture Can Help Dogs & Cats

Diabetes in Dogs
Diabetes in dogs is common in the following breeds:
• Beagle
• Cairn Terrier
• Chow Chow
• Dachshund
• Doberman Pinscher
• Golden Retriever
• Keeshond
• Labrador Retriever
• Malamute
• Miniature Pinscher
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Poodle
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Samoyed
• Schipperke
• West Highland White (Westie)

Diabetes is most likely in middle-aged and senior dogs, especially in females that have not been spayed.

Diabetes in Cats
Diabetes is also common in cats, especially middle-aged and older cats. There is a higher incidence in neutered males, and in Burmese cats.

Acupuncture Helps Lower High Blood Sugar
Researchers in Brazil looked at whether electroacupuncture could lower high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Electroacupuncture at St 36 and CV 12 lowers high blood sugar and lowers lactate levels. The researchers believed the decrease in lactate occurred because electroacupuncture increases rate at which lactate is converted to pyruvate. Low frequency (10 HZ) stimulation was more effective than higher frequency stimulation.

Researchers used rats for the study, but stimulation of these points is likely to cause similar response in small animals, including dogs & cats. Diabetic pets may benefit, and pets recovering from exercise or work that produces high lactate levels.

Research Publication
The research can be found in PubMed or Acta Cir Bras. 2011;26 Suppl 1:47-52. Electro-AP stimulation using different frequencies (10 and 100 Hz) changes the energy metabolism in induced hyperglycemic rats. Figueiredo LM, Silva AH, Prado Neto AX, Hissa MN, Vasconcelos PR, Guimarães SB. Dept of Surgery, UFC, Ceara, Brazil.