When shoulder pain occurs, it becomes difficult to move the upper body, including the neck and shoulders, leading to a decline in quality of life.

In order to achieve a quick recovery, acupuncture along with medication is sometimes used. How about acupuncture for people with high blood sugar? We looked into related questions.

 

 

I am a man in my 50s who has had diabetes for 10 years.

Recently, possibly due to frozen shoulder, my shoulder pain has worsened, making it difficult to sleep.

People around me are recommending I try acupuncture at a Korean medicine clinic, but I'm worried that my blood sugar might be an issue.

 

Q. Can diabetic patients also receive acupuncture?

 

A. High prevalence of frozen shoulder in diabetic patients, early treatment is important

Diabetic patients are more prone to shoulder pain than the general population due to a higher risk of frozen shoulder.

 

Diabetic patients have sticky blood, which makes inflammation more likely in the tissues of ligaments and nerves. Additionally, poor blood circulation slows down the recovery of damaged tissues. It is important to regularly manage blood sugar levels as well as shoulder pain.

 

Frozen shoulder mostly improves with stretching, physical therapy, and medication.

It is recommended to do a warm towel or water compress for about 10 minutes a day and perform light shoulder stretches.

Receiving intra-articular steroid injections early on can help alleviate pain. However, steroids are a common medication that can affect blood sugar levels, so those with significant blood sugar fluctuations or severe hyperglycemia should be cautious. When consulting for shoulder issues, inform your doctor that you have diabetes, and if you have received a steroid injection, manage your blood sugar more diligently for about a week.

You may receive acupuncture treatment. 

 

Unless you are suffering from severe diabetic complications or are an elderly diabetic patient, it has long been proven through research both domestically and internationally that acupuncture is effective not only for blood sugar control in diabetic patients but also for pain relief. For safe treatment, it is advisable to inform the clinic about the timing of diabetes diagnosis, medication usage, and blood test results when visiting the Korean medicine clinic.

 

The most important thing to prevent shoulder pain in diabetic patients is regular stretching. Stretching can help restore the range of motion in the shoulder.

 

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Diabetic patient with frozen shoulder

It's okay to get acupuncture at the Korean medicine clinic.

 

However, beforehand, with stretching

Preventing frozen shoulder is more important.