Acupuncture for Diabetic Retinopathy

Acupuncture for diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness. According to a 2013 study diabetic retinopathy ranks as the 5th  most common cause of visual impairment globally.

The increasing risk of visual impairment calls for effective intervention to remedy diabetic retinopathy. But this is easier said than done – conventional treatments such as vitrectomy can be risky.  Acupuncture may offer an effective and safe treatment for diabetic retinopathy.

An Overview of Diabetic Retinopathy – Definition and Causes

What is diabetic retinopathy? It is a visual impairment condition associated with both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. The visual problem occurs when blood vessels in the eye are blocked due to high blood sugar levels.

In such a scenario, the body’s natural response is to maintain blood supply by forming new vessels. Unfortunately, these new blood vessels may develop abnormally or leak – hence diabetic retinopathy. There are two diagnoses of diabetic retinopathy depending on the progression of the condition.

Types of Diabetic Retinopathy

  1. Proliferative: This type of diabetic retinopathy is characterized by the formation of new blood vessels along the retina. However, these vessels are weak and can easily leak fluid – leading to blurry vision or even blindness. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy also increases the risk of other eye conditions such as detached retina and glaucoma.
  • Non-Proliferative: With non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the body has not formed new blood vessels in the iris. Instead, existing blood vessels swell due to blockage from excess blood sugar. The outcome of such extensive blockage is an insufficient supply of blood and leakage.

Symptoms and Risk Factors of Diabetic Retinopathy

What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy? A medical practitioner will most likely look for the following signs and symptoms:

  • Large moving floaters in your visual field
  • Double vision
  • Distorted or blurry vision
  • Gradual loss of vision

It is also important to note that the severity of diabetes is directly related to an increased risk of diabetic retinopathy. Other risk factors include tobacco use, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and uncontrolled blood sugar.

Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy – Conventional Medicine

  • Proliferative Stage: If you are diagnosed with an advanced stage of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a medical professional/eye specialist may recommend intraocular injections, vitrectomy, or laser eye treatment.
  • Non-Proliferative Stage: If you are suffering from mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the main conventional approach is to reduce risk factors – and manage blood sugar levels.

Acupuncture for Diabetic Retinopathy

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for many ailments.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been gaining increased attention in the medical industry. According to a 2014 study, acupuncture is “evolving into one of the most utilized forms of complementary integrative medicine interventions in the United States.” This growth in popularity is attributed to emerging scientific studies that prove the safety and efficacy of TCM. But what are the principles behind acupuncture treatment? How exactly does it work for diabetic retinopathy?

According to TCM and acupuncture, health problems are often associated with an energy or qi imbalance in one or more internal organs. With this in mind, an acupuncturist will look for underlying issues in addition to the retinal issues in diabetic retinopathy. What this means is that acupuncture attempts to remedy a health problem from the root cause – facilitating improved overall health.

Acupuncture treatment for diabetic retinopathy may involve needling at acupoints on the eyebrow, feet, and hands. These acupoints are located on specific energy channels (meridians) that are concurrent with certain body organs. In the case of diabetic retinopathy, acupuncture helps by maintaining proper circulation in the retina and eyes. Improved circulation leads to:

  • Delivery of necessary nutrients to the eyes
  • Mitigation of bleeding
  • Proper distribution of oxygenated blood
  • Reduced inflammation and build-up of fluid
  • Encourages regeneration of damaged cells

Centre of Balance Hamilton – How Can Our Acupuncturists Help?

Are you (or a loved one) suffering from eye problems, including diabetic retinopathy? Our highly experienced acupuncture practitioners can help you to maintain optimal eye health. In regards to diabetic retinopathy, we use a tailor-made treatment program to meet your unique needs. This is because we understand that a disease manifests itself in different ways. Contact us today to book a consultation.

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Bourne, R. R., Stevens, G. A., White, R. A., Smith, J. L., Flaxman, S. R., Price, H., … & Pesudovs, K. (2013). Causes of vision loss worldwide, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis. The lancet global health, 1(6), e339-e349.

Jishun, J., & Mittelman, M. (2014). Acupuncture: past, present, and future.

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.