Acupuncture is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), but data from randomized controlled trials are rare.This randomized, placebo-controlled, partially double-blinded clinical trial randomly assigned adults with confirmed type 2 diabetes-induced DPN to receive 10 sessions of needle acupuncture, laser acupuncture, or placebo laser acupuncture for 10 consecutive weeks. Treatment was provided at bilateral acupoints Ex-LE-10 (Bafeng), Ex-LE-12 (Qiduan), and ST-34 (Lianqiu). Neurological assessments, including nerve conduction studies (NCS) of sural and tibial nerves, were performed at baseline and weeks 6 and 15. Primary outcome was delta of sural sensory nerve action potential (SNAP). Secondary outcomes included further NCS values, clinical scores, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).Of 180 participants, 172 completed the study. Sural SNAP and sural and tibial nerve conduction velocities improved significantly after 10 treatments when comparing needle acupuncture to placebo. Needle acupuncture showed earlier onset of action than laser acupuncture. PROMs showed larger improvements following needle and laser acupuncture than placebo, reaching significant differences for hyperesthesia and cramps following needle acupuncture and for heat sensation following laser acupuncture.Classical needle acupuncture had significant effects on DPN. Improvement in NCS values presumably indicates structural neuroregeneration following acupuncture.背景: 针灸是中医常用的治疗糖尿病周围神经病变(DPN)的方法; 但来自随机对照试验的数据很少 方法: 这项随机、安慰剂对照、部分双盲的临床试验将确诊为2型糖尿病所致DPN的成人患者随机分为针刺组、激光针刺组或安慰剂激光针刺组; 连续10周。在双侧穴位Ex-LE-10(八风)、EX-LE-12(气端)和ST-34(梁丘)进行治疗。在基线、第6周和第15周进行神经学评估; 包括腓肠神经和胫神经的神经传导研究(NCS)。主要结果是腓肠感觉神经动作电位(SNAP)的增量。次要结果包括进一步的NCS值、临床评分和患者报告的结果测量(PROMs)。 结果: 在180名参与者中; 172人完成了研究。与安慰剂相比; 针灸治疗10次后; 腓肠神经SNAP、腓肠神经和胫神经传导速度均有明显改善。针刺起效早于激光针刺。与安慰剂相比; 针刺和激光针刺对PROMS有更大的改善; 针灸后的感觉过敏和痉挛具有显著差异; 激光针灸后的热感方面具有显著差异。 结论: 经典针刺治疗DPN疗效显著。NCS值的改善可能表明针灸后存在结构性神经再生。.