- • Acupuncture is used alongside — never instead of — the diabetes care your physician provides.
- • The symptoms patients most often want help with are night-time burning, pins and needles, and numbness that affects balance.
- • Foot changes you can't feel need a doctor's eyes first; we'll always send you there.
What acupuncture is being asked to do here
Blood sugar management is the foundation of diabetic neuropathy care, and nothing in this article changes that. What patients typically come to us for is the day-to-day symptom load that remains once the medical side is being handled.
That usually means burning feet in the evening, tingling that makes it hard to settle, numbness that makes footing uncertain, and the fatigue that comes from months of broken sleep.
Working with, not around, your medical team
We ask about your prescriptions, your recent labs if you know them, and who manages your diabetes. Acupuncture sits alongside that care. If something we hear sounds like it belongs with your physician or podiatrist, we say so.
Patients often find it easiest to schedule acupuncture in the weeks between medical follow-ups, so there's a clear picture of what changed and when.
The foot checks we won't skip
Reduced sensation means injuries go unnoticed. Before treatment we look at your feet, and if there's a blister, crack, sore, colour change or anything that hasn't healed, we'll ask you to have it seen medically before we continue.
This isn't caution for its own sake — a small unnoticed wound on a numb foot is the complication worth avoiding above all others.
What to expect at your visit
Expect a longer first appointment. Dr. Kim takes a full history, checks the feet and lower legs, and explains the plan before any needles are used.
Treatments are restful. You lie down in a quiet room while fine needles are placed, most often in the lower legs and feet. Bring socks you can slip off easily, and don't come on an empty stomach — that matters more when you're managing blood sugar.
Between visits
Small habits carry a lot of the results: keeping feet warm but not hot, walking daily within comfort, and inspecting the soles with a mirror or a family member's help.
We'll also ask you to note the nights that are bad and the nights that aren't. That record is more useful than memory when we review progress.
Serving Clearwater and the surrounding towns
Our only office is in Clearwater at 3001 Executive Drive, close to US-19 with parking directly outside.
People travel in from Largo, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg and Tampa. Call 727-490-6060 if you'd like to talk it through before booking.
Frequently asked
Can acupuncture replace my diabetes medication?+
No. Acupuncture is used alongside the care your physician prescribes, and no one here will ever advise you to change a medication. Those decisions belong to the doctor managing your diabetes.
Is acupuncture safe if I have reduced feeling in my feet?+
It can be, but it requires care. We examine the feet before every treatment and will postpone and refer you if there's any wound, infection or unexplained change in the skin.
How soon might I notice a difference?+
Patients most often report changes in sleep and night-time burning before changes in sensation, and it usually takes several visits rather than one. Dr. Kim will give you a realistic timeframe for your situation at the consultation.
Do I need a referral to come in?+
Florida allows you to book with an acupuncture physician directly, so no referral is needed. If you'd like us to coordinate with your physician, we're glad to.
Related pages at Acupuncture of West Florida
- Neuropathy treatment in Clearwater — How we approach nerve symptoms in the feet and hands
- Conditions we treat — The full list of what Dr. Kim works with
- Our Clearwater clinic — Directions and parking
- Contact the clinic — Ask a question before you book
Talk to Dr. Kim
Book a consultation call. Honest answer whether we can help.
Book Consultation727-490-6060