Objective To study the relationship between serum leptin and insulin resistance

and to analyze the effect of acupuncture on serum leptin level in patients with type-Ⅱ diabetes mellitus(DM).Methods A total of 80 type-Ⅱ DM patients were randomized into acupuncture and medication groups.Acupuncture was applied to Yishu(EX)

Feishu(BL13)

Pishu(BL 20)

etc.according to syndrome identification.The treatment was given once every other day for 12 weeks.For patients in the medication group

Glibenclamide(2.5-7.5 mg/time

1-2 times/d according to blood sugar level) was given for 12 weeks.Fasting blood glucose(FBG)

fasting insulin(FINS) and fasting leptin(FLP) were detected by using glucose oxidase method

radioimmunoassay and ELISA

respectively.Insulin sensitivity index(ISI) and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance(HOMA-IR) were calculated.Results In comparison with pre-treatment

FBG levels and HOMA-IR in both acupuncture and medication groups

and FINS and FLP levels in the acupuncture group were decreased significantly(P<0.01)

while ISI in both acupuncture and medication groups

and FINS level in the medication group were increased remarkably after the treatment(P<0.01).Comparison between two groups showed that after the treatment

FINS and FLP levels

and HOMA-IR of the acupuncture group were considerably lower than those of the medication group(P<0.01)

while ISI of the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that of the medication group(P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture therapy is effective in lowering FLP level

which may contribute to its clinical effect in improving type-Ⅱ DM.