Laser beam application versus catgut implantation in obese diabetic patients

Objective: To compare the effect of laser beam application versus catgut implantation in reducing glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and body mass index in obese diabetic patients. Design: We conducted a clinical, comparative, longitudinal, prospective, and quantitative study. Location: clinic of the National School of Medicine and Homeopathy of the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City. Participants: The initial assessment was conducted with 73 patients, resulting in a sample size of 40 patients (20 per group) with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity grades I and II, males and females between 35 and 65 years of age, non-insulin dependent and with no clinical complication of their main comorbidity in the period from September 2019 to February 2020. Main measurements: We performed simple random sampling to form two groups: group 1 laser, and group 2 catgut. Three elements were sampled (glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides) for blood chemistry, and weight and height were measured for body mass index. Then acupoint treatment was applied in the formula: Yishu (ext), Pishu (V 20), Shenshu (V 23), and Zusanli (E 36) per group for 3 months, and weight and height were measured when the final blood sample was taken. Results: Various statistical tests were performed. No significant differences (p > .05) were found between group 1 laser and 2 catgut in any of the parametric Student's t-tests. In intra-group tests, at baseline and at the end of treatment there were significant differences only in HbA1c values in the overall group. Conclusion: The overall objective was to compare the effect of laser beam application versus catgut implantation to decrease 3 variables, of which there was a significant difference only in the HbA1c of group 2, thus fulfilling the null hypothesis.