Title: The adjuvant role of acupuncture to treat the diabetes mellitus and its analysis using thermogram

Authors: M. Rajagomathi; S. Jeyadevi; K. Hema Latha; P.K. Ramalingam; S.P. Raja

Addresses: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sethu Institute of Technology, Kariapatti, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Medicine, Karpagam Faculty of Medical Science and Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Avadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: This work describes the effects of acupuncture in glycemic control and validates the results using infrared thermography. Two groups of patients undergoing diabetes mellitus treatment, are considered for experimentation. Group A is treated with both drugs and acupuncture, while group B is treated with drugs alone. The patient's blood sugar and surface temperature of the foot are studied. Infrared thermography is used to take thermogram, before and after acupuncture treatment, and the effect of acupuncture treatment is analysed. The liver and spleen acupoints are stimulated and the temperature changes in these points are analysed. The results show that, the foot temperature (at treating acupoints) increases after acupuncture treatment in group A and the postprandial glucose level reduces up to 20 mg/dl whereas in group B only 6 mg/dl change, is observed with negligible temperature change. The obtained results show acupuncture as an optional treatment for diabetes, with no side effects and pain.

Keywords: acupuncture; diabetes mellitus; DM; glycemic control; foot diagnosis; infrared thermography; acupoints; postprandial blood glucose; PBG; fasting glucose; line analysis; spot analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2022.123152

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2022 Vol.38 No.4, pp.379 - 394

Received: 26 Nov 2018
Accepted: 04 Mar 2019
Published online: 01 Jun 2022 *

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