For a diabetic patient who is overweight, we can insert acupuncture needles in specific points corresponding to the Fire Element and the Earth Element. (1) Researchers continue to study the effects of numerous herbs in an attempt to locate a single treatment that addresses the multiple facets of symptoms usually seen in diabetic patients. As an example, one approach to treating diabetes is to use the 5-Elements Theory. An often used Chinese Herbal Formula for diabetic patients is liu wei di huang wan, or "Six-Ingredient Pill. Treating Diabetes With Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine With an estimated 150 million people world-wide currently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, and a continuously rising prevalence of this disease in the general population, acupuncture and herbal medicine have become attractive alternatives to the side-effects and high cost of currently used treatments.

Acupuncture, especially when combined with herbal medicine and diet/lifestyle changes, has become increasingly popular as an effective aid in treating diabetes mellitus.

Because Fire nourishes and strengthens Earth in this theory, and an imbalance or weakness in Earth often correlates with a condition of being overweight, this approach can be quite effective.