
To work with me (Kimberly Burnham, PhD, The Nerve Whisperer) please set up a health coaching session at http://www.creatingcalmnetworkpublishinggroup.com/6/post/2014/03/consultations-health-coaching-visualziation-and-energy-work-with-kimberly-burnham.html
The research project will have several components and work with brittle diabetes (those whose diabetes is most difficult to control with insulin and medication and who have the worst symptoms including painful neuropathies, eyesight loss, weight gain and lack of energy and slowed tissue healing.
Part one will address a 2007 research question on whether improved mobility of the T11-L2 area of the spine will decrease uncontrollable fluctuations in insulin and progression of diabetic symptoms.
The original research found, in a case-control study, an association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and a series of 30 osteopathic palpatory [hands-on touch related] findings. The latter included skin changes, trophic changes, tissue changes, tenderness, and immobility at spinal segmental levels T5-T7, T8-T10, and T11-L2 bilaterally. Researchers saw, "among subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, there was a strong diabetes mellitus duration effect for tissue changes at T11-L2 bilaterally." They concluded, "The only consistent finding in this study was an association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and tissue changes at T11-L2 on the right side. Potential explanations for this finding include reflex viscerosomatic changes directly related to the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus, a spurious association attributable to confounding visceral diseases, or a chance observation unrelated to type 2 diabetes mellitus." Licciardone, J. C., K. G. Fulda, et al. (2007). "A case-control study of osteopathic palpatory findings in type 2 diabetes mellitus." Osteopath Med Prim Care 1: 6. [Full Text] http://www.om-pc.com/content/1/1/6
Part two will look at acupressure and Integrative Manual Therapy related reflex points associated with the pancreas and whether rubbing, touching, working with these specific points by a complementary medicine practitioner or by the patient themselves as self-care will impact the diabetic symptom picture.
A 2011 study found, "Type 2 diabetes is one of the most widespread diseases in the world. The main aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of combined therapy using acupressure therapy, hypnotherapy, and transcendental meditation (TM) on the blood sugar (BS) level in comparison with placebo in type 2 diabetic patients ...Mean BS level in the post-tests and follow-up tests for the experimental group was reduced significantly in comparison with the pre-tests whereas in the placebo group no changes were observed. Combined therapy including acupressure therapy, hypnotherapy, and TM reduced BS of type 2 diabetic patients and was more effective than placebo therapy on this parameter." Bay, R. and F. Bay (2011). "Combined therapy using acupressure therapy, hypnotherapy, and transcendental meditation versus placebo in type 2 diabetes." J Acupunct Meridian Stud 4(3): 183-186.
Some of the points suggested as effective by the literature are: Zusanli (ST36) leg acupoint, Zhongwan (CV12) abdomen acupoint, Yishu (EX), Feishu (BL13), Pishu (BL 20), Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), and Weiwanxiashu (EX-B 3).
Another study found a significant impact of Traditional Chinese Medicine on brain control of blood sugar. They found, "The central nervous system (CNS) plays a key regulatory role in glucose homeostasis. In particular, the brain is important in initiating and coordinating protective counterregulatory responses when blood glucose levels fall. This may due to the metabolic dependency of the CNS on glucose, and protection of food supply to the brain. In healthy subjects, blood glucose is normally maintained within a relatively narrow range. Hypoglycemia in diabetic patients can increase the risk of complications, such as heart disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The clinical research finds that the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a positive effect on the treatment of hypoglycemia." Jiang, H. L., J. J. Niu, et al. (2014). "The role of central nervous system on hypoglycemia and the feasibility of the brain theory in traditional Chinese medicine on treatment of diabetes mellitus." J Integr Med 12(1): 1-6.
Part three will consider the effect of self-care and visualization based color therapy on diabetic symptoms. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the color yellow is associated with the spleen [immune system] and the pancreas [diabetes, digestion and GI pH] and the stomach [digestion].
A2012 study objective "was to work out a method of color and rhythm therapy (CRT) for correction of mental and autonomic disorders in children with diabetes mellitus type I. The elaboration of the method was based on the results of examination of 62 patients, aged 7-16 years. In addition, a psychometric assessment of anxiety (the Spielberger-Khanin test), stress resistance and communicative abilities (the Luscher color test), depression (the scale of Saint-Petersburg Bekhterev's Psychoneurological Research Institute) and autonomic dysfunctions (the Vein's questionnaire) was performed. CRT was conducted with the apparatus"Color-rhythm" that allows to perform stimulation with the light of specified length. The high effectiveness of CRT in the correction of mental and autonomic disorders depending on the character of disorders and effects of separate photic stimuli (red or yellow, green and blue), sequence and rhythm of their presentation is demonstrated. The choice of automatic working regime of the apparatus is proved to be optimal." Filina, N., N. V. Bolotova, et al. (2012). "[Mental and autonomic disorders in children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus type I and their correction using color and rhythm therapy]." Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 112(8): 39-43.