Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of electro-acupuncture （EA） on type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） with intense stomach heat pattern. Methods Seventy female T2DM patients with intense stomach heat pattern were randomized into the acupuncture group and EA group

with 35 in each. The acupuncture group was given acupuncture on Pishu （BL20）

Weishu （BL21） and Dachangshu （BL25） bilaterally with neutral supplementation and drainage and retained the needles for 30 minutes each time. The EA group was given EA on Shangjuxu （ST37）-Neiting （ST44） and Zusanli （ST36）-Fenglong （ST40） bilaterally at a frequency of 5Hz for 30 minutes. Both groups were treated once every other day. The fasting plasma glucose （FPG）

fasting insulin （FINS）

insulin sensitivity index （ISI）

insulin resistance index （Homa-IR）

β-cell function index （Homa-β）

total cholesterol （TC）

triglyceride （TG）

low density lipoprotein （LDL-c）

high density lipoprotein （HDL-c） were observed before and after 3-month treatment. Results The FPG

FINS

Homa-IR

TG

TC and LDL-c were significantly decreased but the ISI and HDL-c were significantly increased in both groups after treatment （P<0.01）. The Homa-β was significantly increased in the EA group （P<0.01）. The improvement of FPG

FINS

ISI and Homa-IR in the EA group was superior to that in the acupuncture group （P<0.05）. The total effective rate of the acupuncture group and EA group was 82.86% and 94.28% respectively

with no significant difference between groups （P>0.05）. Conclusion Acupuncture and EA can regulate the glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism

relieve the insulin resistance and enhance the body’s sensitivity to insulin in T2DM. EA is more effective in lowering blood sugar and improving β-cell function parameters as compared with acupuncture.