In the present paper

the author reviews advances of clinical treatment of diabetes mellitus(DM) and its complications with acupuncture and moxibustion therapies in recent 5 years from therapeutic methods and the research on mechanisms. Regarding the therapeutic methods

DM is frequently treated with ① filiform needle needling

② combined application of acupuncture and moxibustion

③ combined administration of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines

④ acupoint-injection therapy

⑤ acupoint application therapy

and ⑥ acupoint-embedment of catgut and acupoint-implantation of pancreatic islet tissue. Concerning researches on the underlying mechanism of acupuncture in treating DM

results indicated that acupuncture could effectively protect pancreatic islet cells from injury

lower fasting insulin level

regulate levels of some neurotransmitters as noradrenalin

dopamine of the thirst center as well as immunocytokine

balance prostaglandin I 2 /thromboxane A 2

reduce ACTH

etc.

in experimental DM rats. These findings provide scientific basis for clinical application of acupuncture in the treatment of DM.