To explore the rules of acupoint selection for different stages,syndrome types and symptoms of diabetic nephropathy (DKD) treated with acupuncture by means of data mining technology.

Literatures on acupuncture for DKD were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, VIP Chinese Journal Service Platform, SinoMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science and PubMed databases from their inception to January 1, 2025. Frequency statistics were performed using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System. Apriori algorithm in SPSS Modeler 18.0 software was adopted to analyze the association rules of acupoint compatibility for different stages, main syndrome types and symptoms of DKD, and Cytoscape software was used to draw the co-occurrence network diagram.

A total of 119 literatures were included, involving 62 acupoints. The frequency (260 times) and number (27 acupoints) of acupoint application in the early stage of DKD treated with acupuncture were the highest, focusing on replenishing qi and nourishing yin, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, and Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Xuehai (SP10) were mostly selected; in the clinical stage, the treatment focused on tonifying the spleen and kidney, removing blood stasis and purging turbidity, and Shenshu (BL23), Pishu (BL20), Guanyuan (CV4) and Yinlingquan (SP9) were mostly selected; in the end stage, the treatment focused on strengthening yang and consolidating the root, resolving turbidity and detoxifying, and BL20, Mingmen (GV4), CV4 and Shenque (CV8) were mostly selected; for different syndrome types, acupoints were selected based on syndrome differentiation, such as SP6-Taixi (KI3), BL20-CV4, ST36-Zhongwan (CV12), SP10-Geshu (BL17); for different symptoms, high-frequency acupoints were selected based on symptom differentiation, such as CV4, Gaohuangshu (BL43), Shuidao (ST28) and Dadun (LR1) . Among the 19 literatures adopting symptom-combined acupoint selection, "edema" had the highest frequency of occurrence.

The Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang was the meridian with the highest frequency of acupoint application in all stages, and BL23-ST36 was the high-frequency acupoint pair in all stages and syndrome types. Clinically, acupoint selection can be performed by combining stages, syndrome types and symptoms.