Research Studies Evaluating the Effectiveness
of Reflexology for the Condition of Diabetes Mellitus

1. FOOT REFLEXOLOGY THERAPY APPLIED TO PATIENTS WITH NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETIC MELLITUS
   By Duan Zhi-gin et al., Department of Physiotherapy, First Hospital Affiliated to Beijing Medical University, Beijing.
   
   Twenty-two patients, 8 males and 14 females, with non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) were randomly divided into a foot reflexology therapy (FRT) group and a control group with 12 patients in thee FRT group and 10 patients in the control group. Both groups were kept on primary drug therapy while the treatment group had additionally one 35-minute FRT session daily for 30 days. The changes of thrombosis in vitro, thrombocyte aggregation rates, the concentration of plasma fibrinogen and serum oxidative lipid were observed in both groups' pre and post treatment. Before therapy there was no difference between the two groups. After therapy the indexes mentioned above were markedly improved in the FRT group, but, not significantly changed in the control group (p < 0.05).

2. TREATING TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS WITH FOOT REFLEXOTHERAPY
   By X.M. Wang, First Teaching Hospital, Beijing Medical university; Chung Kuo Chung His I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih (China), Sept 1993 13 (9) p. 536-8, 517.
   
   Thirty-two cases of type II diabetes mellitus were randomly divided in two groups. One group was treated with conventional Western medicine (a hypoglycemic agent) plus foot reflexology (FR), the other group with the same medicine only (WM). After 30 days of treatment, fasting blood glucose levels, platelet aggregation, length and wet weight of thrombus, senility symptom scores and serum lipid peroxide were greatly reduced in the foot reflexotherapy group (p<0.05 - 0.01), while no significant change was observed in the Western medicine group. It was concluded that foot reflexotherapy was an effective treatment for type II diabetes mellitus.

3. FOOT REFLEXOTHERAPY IN THE TREATING FOR DIABETES AND DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS - REPORT OF 215 CASES.
   By Wang Haizhong, Foot Massage Clinic, Linqing City, Shandong, China
   
   215 patients (118 males and 97 females) were treated for diabetes mellitus (DM) with foot reflexology therapy (FRT). Patients ages ranged from 36 - 70 years (mean = 53 years). The history of DM was 3 - 5 years in 27 patients, 5 - 10 years in 132 patients and 10 - 16 years in 56 patients. The hypoglycemic drugs were discontinued in mild cases and tapered gradually in severe cases. After 1 - 6 courses of FRT (10 days each), 130 cases (60.5%) became asymptomatic and normoglycemic; 80 cases (37.2%) were left with mild symptoms and nearly normal blood/urine glucose; while the remaining 5 cases (2.3%) stayed unchanged. A description of the FRT treatment strategy and, five typical cases were presented.

4. TREATMENT OF COMPLICATIONS TO TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS: ANALYSIS OF 31 CASES
   By Hou Meiying, Fujian, China
   
   With an explanation that the classical treatment for diabetes mellitus, including dietary control and hypoglycemic agents, has an unstable effect and a high rate of recurrence, this paper presents how reflexo-therapy was applied to 31 patients (18 males and 13 females, aged 40 - 85 years) successfully. A typical case is also presented.

5. AN ANALYSIS OF THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF 28 CASES WITH DIABETIC ACROMELIC VESICLE AND GANGRENE TREATED BY FOOT REFLEXOMASSAGE
   By Zhang Guijin, Shijingshan Hospital, Beijing
   
   Twenty eight patients with diabetic vesicles and diabetic gangrene, 12 males and 16 females, aged 35 - 84 years (mean age = 65 years) were divided into two groups. Both groups were treated the same way, except the treatment group received massage at the reflex areas of both feet. Treatment sessions were 30 - 40 minutes each, 10 sessions = a therapeutic course. For the control group the wound cure was reached in the mean of 39.37 days. For the treatment group the wound cure was reached in the mean of 22.63 days. The comparison between the two groups shows that the total effective rate in the treatment group is 98%, significantly higher than that of the control group.

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