Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on the nerve conduction function in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.Methods Eighty diabetic patients were equally randomized into acupuncture group and medication group.Uniform reinforcing and reducing manipulation of acupuncture for regulating both spleen and stomach was applied to bilateral Quchi(LI11)

Hegu(LI4)

Xuehai(SP10)

Diji(SP8)

Zhongwan(CV12)

Zusanli(ST36)

Yinlingquan(SP9)

etc.

for 30min

once daily for 4 weeks.Patients of the medication group were treated with intramuscular injection of Mecobalamine(500μg)

once daily for 4 weeks.The sensory conduction velocity(SCV)

motor conduction velocity(MCV)

the amplitude and latency of the evoked potential of the tibial nerve were detected before and after the treatment by using an Electromyograph and Evoked Potential Equipment.Results After the treatment

of the two 40 cases in the medication and acupuncture groups

12(30.0%) and 24(60.0%) were cured basically

12(30.0%) and 10(25.0%) experienced marked improvement in their symptoms

9(22.5%) and 4(10.0%) were effective

and 7(17.5%) and 2(5.0%) failed in the treatment

with the total effective rates being 82.5% and 95.0% respectively.The therapeutic effect of the acupuncture group was significantly superior to that of the medication group(P<0.05).In comparison with the pre-treatment

the SCV

MCV

amplitude and latency of the evoked potential of the tibial nerve in the acupuncture group were improved significantly after the treatment(P<0.05

P<0.01).Compared with the medication group

the SCV

the amplitude and the latency of the tibial nerve in the acupuncture group were also improved significantly after the treatment(P<0.05

P<0.01).Conclusion Manipulation of acupuncture for regulating spleen-stomach function has a better effect on the conduction function of the tibial nerve than Mecobalamine in the treatment of diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy.