Given that pro-inflammatory cytokines are implicated in the pathogenesis of IR,28 increased levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in obese patients can alter insulin sensitivity by triggering different key steps in the insulin-signaling pathway.29 Recent studies have suggested that IL-6 could be involved in IR and the downregulation of GLUT4.13 In our study, we sought to understand the relationship between weight loss, inflammatory markers and IR, when T2DM patients were treated with acupuncture-combined therapy. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.