Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40220243›Full record

SynthesisCurrent pain and headache reports2025

Acupuncture for the Management of Chronic Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Lei Lan, Li Wang, Behnam Sadeghirad, Juan Tang, Yunyu Liu, Rachel J Couban, Wenbin Ma, Jason W Busse

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Current pain and headache reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Lei LanAcupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Li WangMichael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
Behnam SadeghiradMichael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
Juan TangAcupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Yunyu LiuAcupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Rachel J CoubanDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
Wenbin MaSchool of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Jason W BusseMichael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. bussejw@mcmaster.ca.

Funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canada Research Chair in Prevention & Management of Chronic Pain NoneChina Scholarship Council No. CSC 202008510044Sichuan provincial project，China No. 2022YFS0401
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimDiabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) affects up to half of all patients with diabetes mellitus. Acupuncture is often used to manage chronic pain, but its' effects on DPN are uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for DPN.

methodsWe searched databases from inception to September 30, 2024. Paired reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We used random effects models for all meta-analyses and the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of evidence.

resultsWe included 14 RCTs (1,169 participants, 45% female). Low certainty evidence suggests that, compared to sham, acupuncture may reduce pain (weighted mean difference [WMD] -1.44 cm on a 10 cm VAS, 95%CI -1.72 to -1.15; modelled risk difference [RD] for achieving the minimally important difference [MID] of 1.5 cm: 45%, 95%CI 35-54%). Comparted to sham or usual care, low certainty evidence suggests that acupuncture may reduce overall neurological symptom severity (WMD - 1.22 [95%CI -1.85, -0.59] on the 19-point Toronto Clinical Scoring System [TCSS]), and provide little to no difference in physical functioning, mental functioning, or adverse events. Low certainty evidence suggests that, compared to amitriptyline or pregabalin, acupuncture may reduce pain associated with DPN.

conclusionsAcupuncture for DPN may reduce pain when compared to sham acupuncture and may reduce neurologic symptom severity and result in little to no difference in physical functioning, mental functioning or adverse events, when compared with sham acupuncture or usual care.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyChronic PainDiabetic NeuropathiesPain ManagementHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAcupunctureDiabetic peripheral neuropathyMeta-analysisPain

Identifiers

PMID40220243

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.