Ear acupuncture for poor sleep in older adults with diabetes and high blood pressure
Tests ear acupuncture against a sham version for sleep problems in older rural adults.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Auricular Acupuncture Therapy Administered by Village Doctors Improves Sleep Quality in Elderly Patients With Comorbid Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension
Key facts
- Where
- Taizhou, ChinaSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for people aged 65 or older who have both diabetes and high blood pressure and sleep badly. It tests ear acupuncture given by village doctors.
- Age
- 65 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Diabetes and high blood pressure together, with poor sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score of 8 or higher).
- Earlier treatment
- Cannot join if they currently get regular other acupuncture or used any sleeping medication in the past month.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Stroke
- Severe mental illness or problems with thinking and memory
- Severe organ failure, for example end-stage kidney disease
- Ear infection, eczema, broken skin or deformity of the ear
- Bleeding disorder or use of blood thinners
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Where in China
- Taizhou People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical UniversityTaizhou, ChinaContact: zhimei teng, masterTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT07554235
- Record updated
- 29 June 2026
- Original description
This study aims to apply traditional auricular press-needle acupuncture to treat sleep disturbances in elderly patients (aged ≥65 years) with comorbid diabetes mellitus and hypertension in rural areas of China. Given the complex bidirectional relationship between diabetes mellitus with hypertension and sleep disturbances, this cluster randomized trial is designed to test whether a village doctor-led intervention model supported by telemedicine can improve sleep disturbances in patients with comorbid diabetes mellitus and hypertension, compared to sham auricular press-needle acupuncture. Participants will be recruited by local village doctors according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The protocol is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory for core point selection: Heart, Liver, Kidney, Shenmen, and Forehead area, along with optimized medication regimens supported by remote cardiovascular specialists. The investigators will evaluate the overall improvement in sleep disturbances using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at the end of the 6-week treatment period, and assess sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue at 12 weeks.Read full original descriptionShow less
Auricular Acupuncture Therapy Administered by Village Doctors Improves Sleep Quality in Elderly Patients With Comorbid Diabetes and Hypertension
This study aims to apply traditional auricular press-needle acupuncture to treat sleep disturbances in elderly patients (aged ≥65 years) with comorbid diabetes mellitus and hypertension in rural areas of China. Given the complex bidirectional relationship between diabetes mellitus with hypertension and sleep disturbances, this cluster randomized trial is designed to test whether a village doctor-led intervention model supported by telemedicine can improve sleep disturbances in patients with comorbid diabetes mellitus and hypertension, compared to sham auricular press-needle acupuncture. Participants will be recruited by local village doctors according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The protocol is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory for core point selection: Heart, Liver, Kidney, Shenmen, and Forehead area, along with optimized medication regimens supported by remote cardiovascular specialists. The investigators will evaluate the overall improvement in sleep disturbances using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at the end of the 6-week treatment period, and assess sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue at 12 weeks.
Inclusion: Age ≥65 years; Patients with comorbid diabetes mellitus and hypertension:; Sleep disturbance: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) total score ≥8; Willing to participate in this study and sign the informed consent form; Has resided in this village for at least six months.
Exclusion: Currently receiving regular other acupuncture treatments; Use of any hypnotic medications within the past month; Stroke; Severe mental illness or cognitive impairment; Severe organ failure (e.g., end-stage renal disease); Ear infection, eczema, breakage, or deformity; Bleeding disorders or use of anticoagulants (increased bleeding risk); History of fainting during acupuncture; Life expectancy less than six months.