Diabetic must poke themselves with needles. Often they pick a spot on the body and use it over and over. They miss a valuable opportunity!
I propose that the rules of acupuncture could be used to guide diabetics in the placement of their needles, thus obtaining the benefits of acupuncture together with the necessary insulin. A standard course of acupuncture consists of several needles placed over the course of a short session which is constrained by time demands on the acupuncture practitioner. The diabetic would spread this session out over some days.
Goals of acupuncture might be to address the many medical problems which are cotravelers with diabetes or optional things like intelligence, sex drive or typing speed.-- bungston, Jun 17 2009 (?) You shouldn't keep injecting in the same place http://www.johnshop...Diabetes_949-1.htmlto "prevent unsightly skin changes and unwanted variations in the rate at which the insulin gets into your blood stream." [friendlyfire, Jun 18 2009] Benefits? http://en.wikipedia...earch_into_efficacySome positive, some negative, enough to warrant further research [BunsenHoneydew, Jun 19 2009] as I understand it: diabetics must hit the veins, while acupuncturists must avoid the veins.-- xaviergisz, Jun 17 2009 Insulin is given as a subcutaneous injection, not in a vein, or I.M. as in intramuscular. Hence in theory I think the acupuncture "point" may be made. Why, is something I don't know. The standard injection sites are there for a reason. So a person can self inject. Upper thigh and upper arm have a good supply of subcutaneous matter, and are easy to access.
I believe the poke of acupuncture needles are about the same intensity of "ouch" as modern day insulin needles. But then I've not been stuck with either recently.
Where were you thinking of housing the actual insulin, bungy?-- blissmiss, Jun 18 2009 I stand corrected.-- xaviergisz, Jun 18 2009 How about a new game, where two opposing protagonists poke each other with needles as they literally score points....and the name of this game? Argupuncture of course. (sorry for slightly hijacking your idea [bungston] to indulge mine)-- xenzag, Jun 18 2009 As a person with neither a b nor an x in my username, i feel like an interloper here, but could you maybe use other hormones and drugs too?-- nineteenthly, Jun 18 2009 xenzaggy, I'm terribly sorry if I stepped on toes or hurt feelings, or came off badly. Not my intent.
[bungston] often times posts very good and technically sound medical ideas. That is why I had the rather dry and know-it all-ish stance. I was just reminding bungy of the details, that they/he/she seemed to be overlooking. Especially the "where the insulin would be housed" part.
I am so sorry if I offended you in anyway. It was not at all my intent. I love you zagxen, and always will. (The nurse in me snuck out too. sorry.)-- blissmiss, Jun 18 2009 Accupuncture needles are hair thin and may not be thick enough to hold a dose of anything. They are only injected very shallowly into the skin and may go as deep as the muscle outer sheath. The effect on my trigger points is that the stimulus loosens the banding on the muscle, thereby relaxing the muscle. It is not painful.-- dentworth, Jun 18 2009 Well, I am diabetic and I also go to acupuncture, so I thought about this...[blissy] is right about insulin being injected subcutaneously, whilst acupunture works with the energy lines flowing thoughout the body. It seems to make some kind of halfbaked sense, so here's a bun.-- xandram, Jun 18 2009 God, now I feel really daft. I was crying a bit when I was reading this. I meant the apology to be to [xaviergisz], not [zaggy], whom I think I am more familiar with, but not sure who is who here really.
I meant the apology and I meant it for the first poster I also must now apologize to [the bungster] for making messy on his/her idea.
I absolutely believe if [bungston] seriously continues to proceed trying to develop medical breakthroughs, that some day he/she will. The intent is always for the right reason, and hence the result will reflect that, I believe. Anyway that's my 29cents.-- blissmiss, Jun 18 2009 You are too kind, [bliss]. My "Fake Rubber Ass" concept could use some love, so be sure to visit that next.
/Where were you thinking of housing the actual insulin, bungy?/
This would be done with regular insulin needles and syringes. I suppose that means a load of insuline would get dropped off in the acupuncture point.
/self inject/ Yes, that could be tricky. Hard to reach places in the back might require assistance.
/hair thin needles/ as are insulin needles.
/very shallowly into the skin etc / yes, yes, just so.-- bungston, Jun 18 2009 This made me wonder whether there is a biochemical pathway involving insulin/glucagon when pain or even stress is involved. Society's constructs are making us more insulated, less thorns, cuts and abrasions. Questionable?
Having to take a shot of pain with your insulin wouldn't be very nice even if it was beneficial.-- wjt, Jun 19 2009 Science tells us that there are no benefits of acupuncture.
Bone.-- krelnik, Jun 19 2009 [krelnik] "Science" says nothing of the sort. See [link]-- BunsenHoneydew, Jun 19 2009 Hi, krelnik! Haven't seen you in years. (okay, please resume lively debate.)-- blissmiss, Jun 19 2009 krelnik, you missed my anno. Aside from xan's new age sort of applications, I believe there is a physical benefit to the acupuncture. To prove this, my Physical Medicine doc is the one who administers the ac. needle-- dentworth, Jun 19 2009 random, halfbakery