Acupuncture, Diabetes and PCOS

Diabetes has become more common in the last twenty years. Processed foods are loaded with fructose, which is absorbed much faster than fructose in fruits. Women with type II diabetes or glucose intolerance tend to develop Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The common symptoms of PCOS are: high levels of testosterone, obesity, insulin resistance, (the insulin receptor is not as sensitive as it should be due to high sugar intake), chronic anovulation (not ovulating regularly), high blood level of insulin, high level of bad cholesterol and low level of good cholesterol. Women with PCOS have a much higher risk of miscarriage than healthy women and they tend to develop atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases. Furthermore, women with PCOs tend to develop infertility, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia.

When women have a high sugar diet, their bodies have to produce more insulin to normalize the blood sugar levels. This high level of insulin gradually desensitizes the insulin receptors. The pancreas cells have to produce more insulin, which can reduce sex hormone binding globulin and increase levels of free testosterone. The high level of testosterone stimulates hair growth on women’s legs and face, causing the development of ovarian cysts, stopping regular ovulation and leading to infertility.
Acupuncture can help diabetes patients lower their blood sugar level by improving their digestion and the function of thyroid gland. After acupuncture treatment, the blood sugar level is lowered by producing more energy for the body instead of being converted into fat and stored in the fat cells. That is why people tend to have more energy right after an acupuncture treatment.

The Boston Chinese Acupuncture Clinic has successfully treated many women with PCOS to restore their regular ovulation so that they can have a healthy pregnancy. During each treatment, the acupuncturist in the Needham clinic will go through your diet and help you choose the right food and herbs to improve your ovarian function. Please visit our website: www.bostonchineseacupunture.org to see how acupuncture can help diabetes patients to lose weight with healthy way.