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The general complication in diabetic patients is painful and disadvantageous neuropathy. Treating diabetic neuropathy requires a correct timing in determining the therapy. Various modalities of treatment including pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy is used in treating this disorder. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of combined laserpuncture and pharmacological treatment; and combined sham laserpuncture with pharmacological treatment in patients with diabetic neuropathy. A randomized controlled clinical trial is done on 36 patients. Laserpuncture were applied on the MA-IC3 Endocrine ear acupuncture point, ST36 Zusanli, ST40 Fenglong, and SP6 Sanyinjiao bilaterally twice a week for twelve sessions; while in the control group, laserpuncture is done with the laser equipments turned off. The results showed a significant difference in the mean value of VAS score difference before and after treatment between the laserpuncture and pharmacology group and the sham laserpuncture and pharmacology group with the p value < 0.001. The mean VAS score difference before and after treatment is ­−4.12±1.204 in the intervention group and −1.37± 0.718 in the control group. There is no statistically significant difference in the mean difference of IL-6 level before and after treatment between the intervention group [− 0.12 (−2.04 - 17.66)] and control group [−0.395 (−17.28 - 5.33)] with the p value = 0.318. There is a significant difference in the mean value of the increase in IL-10 before and after treatment between the laserpuncture and pharmacology group [0.05 (−0.08 - 0.66)] and the shamlaserpuncture and pharmacology group [− 0.075 (−1.40 - 0.56)] with the p value = 0.032; and in   the increase of nerve conduction velocity of the left tibialis motoric nerve [0.00 (−3.20 - 13.0) and − 2.35 (−14.5 - 8.30)] with the p value = 0.007.

Conclusion: The combined laserpuncture and pharmacology treatment is effective in reducing VAS score, increasing IL-10 level, and improve the nerve conduction velocity of the left tibialis motoric nerve in diabetic neuropathy patients; but is not effective in reducing the IL-6 level.

laserpuncture, diabetic neuropathy, diabetes mellitus.