PCOS, Diabetes & Obesity

PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is one of the leading causes in female infertility condition, occurring in up to 10% of women of reproductive age.

PCOS is associated with numerous serious metabolic effects. Among the problems associated with the condition are elevated levels of androgens ( the ‘male’ hormone found in both sexes), ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles and infertility.

PCOS is associated with increased sympathetic nerve activity in the blood vessels and increases the risk of diabetes. PCOS, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are all closely associated with Insulin resistance (IR); And metabolic syndrome due to IR  is also a risk factor for serious diseases such as cardiovascular diseases.

Pharmacological treatments available for Insulin resistance are limited by drug adverse effects.Because acupuncture has been practiced for over  two thousands of years in China, it has been increasingly used worldwide for Insulin resistance-related diseases.

Evidenced-based study in 2009 shows exercise and electro-acupuncture treatment can reduce sympathetic nerve activity in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), as well as testosterone levels; and importantly also reduce waist circumference.

A systematic review on 234 English publications between 1979 and 2009 on the effectiveness of acupuncture for Insulin resistance have demonstrated that acupuncture can correct various metabolic disorders such as  overweight, hyperglycemia, and  hyperlipidemia, altered activity of the sympathetic nervous system and insulin signal defect, etc.

More deatils can be found in the following papers:

  • Acupuncture: is it effective for treatment of insulin resistance? Diabetes Obes Metab. 2010;12(7):555-69.
  • Low-frequency electroacupuncture and physical exercise decrease high muscle sympathetic nerve activity in PCOS. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physio, 2009;297(2):R387-95.

Apparently deal manage obesity while treat PCOS can mutual benefits each other. Faculty in Great Wall Acu  have over 20 years experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Especially Dr. Wang has been involved in modern research in Diabetes  for over ten years and will manage your condition more properly.

Dr. Wang Peer Reviewed Publications (in chronological order) (Symbols #  = corresponding  author)

  1. Wang Z #, Zhang H. Antidiabetic Effects of Ginseng in Humans and Rodents. Journal of Metabolic Syndrome. 2012;1:106. DOI:10.4172/2167-0943.1000106.
  2. Wang Z  #,  Thurmond D. PAK1 limits the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein BAD in pancreatic islet β-cells. FEBS Open Bio 2012; 2: 273-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.fob.2012.09.001
  3. Chen YC, Fueger T P and Wang Z #. Depletion of PAK1 enhances Ubiquitin mediated Survivin degradation in pancreatic beta-cells. Islets, 2013 Jan 1;5(1)1-7. PMID:23514967.
  4. Wang Z, Oh E, Thurmond DC. Glucose-stimulated Cdc42 signaling is essential for the second phase of insulin secretion. J Biol Chem. 2007, 282(13): 9536-46.
  5. Jewell JL, Luo W, Oh E, Wang Z, Thurmond DC. Filamentous actin regulates insulin exocytosis through direct interaction with Syntaxin 4. J Biol Chem. 2008, 283(16): 10716-26.
  6. Wang Z, Thurmond DC. Mechanisms of biphasic insulin-granule exocytosis – roles of the cytoskeleton, small GTPases and SNARE proteins (peer reviewed commentary). J Cell Sci. 2009, 122(Pt 7): 893-903.
  7. Wang Z, Thurmond DC. Differential phosphorylation of RhoGDI mediates the distinct cycling of Cdc42 and Rac1 to regulate second-phase insulin secretion. J Biol Chem. 2010, 285(9):6186-97.
  8. Wang, Z., Oh, E., Chernoff, J., Clapp, D.W. and Thurmond, DC. The Cdc42-Pak1 signaling pathway controls second-phase insulin release in human islets: aberrant whole-body glucose homeostasis in Pak1-deficient mice. J Biol Chem. 2011 Dec 2;286(48):41359-67.
  9. Kalwat, M. Wiseman, D. Luo, W.  Wang, Z. and Thurmond, DC. Gelsolin Associates with the N-terminus of Syntaxin 4 to Regulate Insulin Granule Exocytosis.  Mol Endocrinol.  2012 Jan; 26(1):128-41.
  10. Kalwat MA, Yoder SM, Wang Z, Thurmond A p21-activated kinase (PAK1) signaling cascade coordinately regulates F-actin remodeling and insulin granule exocytosis in pancreatic beta-cells. Biochem Pharmacol. 2013, 85:808-816. PMID: 23246867