P. Sze 
Getting diagnosed with diabetes can be devastating. Conventional wisdom likes to put the blame on bad eating habits and lack of exercise, but that is not always the case. The truth is that no one wants to get diabetes, and the only known ways to treat it are through insulin therapy and lifestyle modifications. Sometimes, these don’t help. Recently, people have been trying acupressure therapies for treating diabetes. In this article, we will discuss four potent acupressure points for diabetes that you must know. But first, let us discuss what diabetes and acupressure are.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which your body is incapable of effectively producing or using insulin. This causes damage to many organs, including the kidneys, eyes, and pancreas. Symptoms of diabetes include weight loss, fatigue, an increase in appetite/thirst, and urination among many others. There are a few types of diabetes like type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) is when the body stops making insulin in the pancreas. Patients have to use insulin prescribed by their doctors in order to live a normal life.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) is the most common form of diabetes. About 29 million people in the US are affected by Type 2 diabetes. In this type, your body cannot use insulin well. Good healthy habits are key to treating type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar is higher than normal, but it isn’t at type 2 diabetes levels. Healthy lifestyle changes will help you get back on track.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. Women that do not have diabetes before pregnancy can suffer from it. After delivery, it can go away, but women have an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes later.
What Is Acupressure?
Acupressure is a traditional Chinese therapy that uses massage and pressure to “acupoints” to treat ailments of the body. It follows the same principles as acupuncture. Some people may be concerned about the possible side effects that diabetes medications could have on them. Supplementing your regimen with acupressure can help not only treat the root cause of diabetes, but also relieve side effects. There are some effective acupressure points for diabetes that we will discuss later on in this article. These points will help to stabilize your blood sugar levels.
Is Acupressure Good For Diabetes?
Yes, acupressure is good for diabetes and is considered a safe treatment. Studies have shown that it is effective in reducing blood sugar and other issues arising from diabetes. The advantage of acupressure is that it has no side effects. Meaning you can treat with acupressure for as little or as long or as frequently as you want. Pregnant women should consult their doctor before trying this treatment.
Can Acupressure Cure Diabetes?
Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that acupressure or any available treatment out there can cure diabetes. However, eating healthy, exercising, and treating with acupressure will enable you to manage your diabetes without a problem.
The Best Technique To Apply Acupressure
To achieve the best results, you must know the most effective technique for acupressure. First, locate your target acupoint. Then, apply gentle pressure and massage the area for 1-2 minutes. Repeat on other acupoints you’d like to treat. You can continue to treat with acupressure however many times you’d like. Make sure to not treat any open wounds, bruises, sores, or lacerations. If you feel any pain, stop immediately.
Potent Acupressure Points For Diabetes
1. Acupoint: EX-B3 (Other Names: Wei Wan Xia Shu)
EX-B3, also known as “weiwanxiashu” or “yishu”, is located 2 fingers from either side of the 8th thoracic vertebra. The 8th thoracic vertebra is the next vertebra after the 7th vertebra, which is located on the same level as the corner of the scapula. Research confirms that this acupressure point for diabetes produces great results for regular stimulation of insulin. After acupressure treatment, your body will start to remove heat and secrete fluids that are beneficial for diabetes. Additionally, it also helps with abdominal pain and other digestive orders.
2. Acupoint: LU-10 (Other Names: Lung-10/Yu Ji/Fish Border)
LU-10, also known as “yuji” or “fish border”, is located at the top of the thumb where the center of the bone joins the wrist. In other words, the place where the back of your hand and palm meets. LU-10 helps to moderate glucose levels and prevents you from feeling thirsty. Our kidneys are constantly removing extra sugar from the blood. In this process, it removes some extra fluid from the blood, which is why diabetics can often feel thirsty. LU-10 treated in conjunction with other acupressure points for diabetes showed positive results.
LU-10 is also one of the 6 effective acupressure points for asthma.
3. Acupoint: ST-44 (Other Names: Stomach-44/Nei Ting/Inner Court)
St-44, also known as “neiting” or “inner court”, is located between the second and third fingers at the top side of the foot. Pressure is applied at this point to remove stomach heat that travels from the face to the toe. This causes suppressed appetite, constipation, gastric issues, and inhibits other symptoms of diabetes. A good stomach will help to regulate insulin and glucose in your blood. There is also evidence that St-44 helps with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Similar to EX-B3 and LU-10, St-44 plays a role in alleviating abdominal pain as well as pain in the teeth and feet.
Interestingly, TCM practitioners commonly use ST-44 in acupuncture for jaw clenching.
4. Acupoint: KI-3 (Other Names: Kidney-3/Tai Xi/Supreme Stream)
KI-3, also known as “taixi” or “great stream”, is located on the ankle in the depression between the heel and back of the medial malleolus. This acupressure point for diabetes is used to detoxify the kidney to help in the management of diabetes. Kidneys in bad condition can cause increased thirst, toothache, insomnia, and dizziness. By applying acupressure on this point, you will help to relieve the kidney, remove toxic materials from the body and replenish “qi”. KI-3 is also great for treating urination problems, back pain, headache, dizziness, cough, asthma, and a whole host of others. It helps you all around.
You can also use KI-3 in acupuncture for sprained ankle.
