Objective To Investigate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture(EA) at different frequencies for patients with impaired glucose tolerance(IGT).Methods A total of 120 IGT outpatients were randomly divided into control

EA-5 Hz

EA-50 Hz

and EA-100 Hz groups(n=30/group).EA(1 mA) was applied to bilateral Pishu(BL 20)

Shenshu(BL 23)

Zusanli(ST 36) and Sanyinjiao(SP 6) for 20 min

once daily for 60 sessions.Body mass index(BMI)

fasting blood glucose(FBG) and 2-hour post-prandial blood glucose(2 h PBG) contents were detected by using BAYER Blood Sugar Analyzer and glycosylated haemoglobin(HbA1c) content was detected by enzymatic assay.Results Following the treatment

both HbA1c and 2 h PBG levels in the EA-5 Hz group were significantly lower than those of the control group and those of pre-treatment in the same one group(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found between the EA-5 Hz and control groups

between pre-treatment and post-treatment in the EA-5 Hz group in BMI and FBG levels;between the EA-50 Hz and control groups

between the EA-100 Hz and control groups

and between pre-treatment and post-treatment in the EA-50 Hz and EA-100 Hz groups in BMI

FBG

2 h PBG and HbA1c levels(P>0.05).Conclusion Lower frequency EA of BL 20

BL 23

ST 36 and SP 9 can reduce HbA1c and 2 h PBG levels in IGT patients

suggesting a helpful effect of EA in controlling the development of diabetes.