Photobiomodulation and Diabetes: Effects on Chronic Wounds and Neuropathy

Type 2 diabetes gradually weakens the skin, tissues, and nerves. Wounds heal slowly, neuropathic pain becomes a daily reality, and the body’s ability to regenerate cells declines. It is in this context that photobiomodulation (PBM), an approach based on red and infrared light therapy, is attracting the attention of researchers. What do studies reveal about its actual effects in people with diabetes?

What Red Light Does to Cells and Tissues

The principle of PBM is based on a specific biological effect. During treatments, photons emitted by a low-power laser or LED panels penetrate the skin and tissues at a wavelength between 630 and 1,000 nm. These photons are absorbed by chromophores, cellular receptors located in the mitochondria—the organelles responsible for producing ATP, the energy essential for the proper functioning of every cell.

The effect of red light on this system is direct and measurable: ATP production increases, cells regain their regenerative capacity, and a series of beneficial mechanisms are triggered. Research published in numerous scientific journals highlights a reduction in inflammation, improved blood circulation in the tissues, and stimulation of cell proliferation. Infrared light, whose long wavelength allows it to penetrate deeper into tissues than visible red light, is particularly useful for reaching vascular structures located beneath the skin. These combined effects explain the value of PBM in the context of diabetes, where cells and tissues chronically lack energy and the ability to repair themselves.

Healing of Diabetic Wounds: What the Results Show

On the skin of a person with diabetes, even a superficial wound can become chronic. Several factors combine to disrupt the body’s natural tissue repair system: insulin imbalance, which slows cell regeneration; persistent low-grade inflammation; and poor peripheral blood circulation, which deprives wounds of the energy and oxygen needed for healing.

The studies cited in PubMed provide concrete results. A double-blind, randomized controlled trial indexed in NCBI evaluated the effect of red light sessions on diabetic foot ulcers over a ten-week period. At a dose of 10 J/cm², the results show a significant improvement in wound healing, stimulation of collagen production in the tissues, accelerated angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), and a marked reduction in the surface area of the skin wounds. Analysis of side effects concluded that the treatment had a very favorable safety profile across all groups monitored.

Other systematic reviews confirm these findings. The power output of the LED panels, the selected infrared wavelength, and the frequency of sessions directly influence the effects observed on the tissues. A comparative analysis of the available studies shows that the most robust results are obtained when these parameters are rigorously defined, whether using a low-intensity laser or dedicated LED panels.

Diabetic Neuropathy: Pain, Nerve Cells, and PBM Sessions

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy affects a large proportion of people living with long-term diabetes. It manifests as diffuse pain in the skin and limbs, burning or numb sensations, a gradual loss of sensation in the soles of the feet, and an overall weakening of the peripheral nervous system. Managing this pain on a daily basis remains a real challenge.

Red- and infrared-light PBM sessions are the subject of increasing research, with results published in several scientific journals:

• A systematic review published in *Current Diabetes Review* (Korada et al., 2023), indexed in PubMed, compiles the results of eight studies on individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy associated with type 2 diabetes. The analysis concludes that there is an improvement in nerve conduction velocity, a reduction in pain, and a better distribution of pressure on the soles of the feet, thereby reducing the risk of new wounds.
• A randomized controlled trial (Anju M. et al., 2025), cited in the NCBI NLM database, followed 200 individuals during sessions using a wavelength of 632.8 nm emitted by a low-power laser. Analysis of neurological biomarkers revealed a significant reduction in markers of nerve cell damage, an improvement in plantar skin sensitivity, and a decrease in neuropathic pain, with no documented side effects.
• A meta-analysis published in PLOS One (Fan et al., 2024), available on the NLM NIH website, expands the analysis to include the metabolic effects of LED sessions on type 2 diabetes—including fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin—offering new insights into the systemic effects of infrared light on the metabolic system in diabetes.

Key takeaways from all the studies

The findings available in scientific journals indexed by NIH, NCBI, and PubMed paint a consistent picture. Red and infrared light PBM sessions, delivered at low power by LED panels or a dedicated laser, produce measurable effects on the cells, tissues, and nervous system of people with diabetes:

• For chronic wounds: stimulation of ATP and collagen production in tissues, reduction of inflammation, improvement in angiogenesis, and acceleration of skin healing, with very few side effects across all the studies analyzed.
• Regarding diabetic neuropathy: improvement in nerve conduction at the cellular level, reduction in neuropathic pain, and partial restoration of sensation in the soles of the feet, with reproducible results according to an analysis of several journals.
• On the metabolic system: preliminary findings from meta-analyses (Wevers A. et al.) suggest that the sessions may have an effect on certain biological markers of type 2 diabetes.

Well-being and Diabetes: How Light Therapy Sessions Make a Real Difference

Photobiomodulation (PBM) does not replace any existing treatment. Its value lies in its complementary effects on the cells, tissues, and pain of individuals affected by diabetes complications, with a favorable side-effect profile. Red and infrared light, emitted at low power by LED panels or a suitable laser, acts directly on cellular ATP production, tissue inflammation, and the peripheral nervous system. The results published in scientific journals available on NCBI and NIH are sufficiently consistent to warrant serious consideration of this approach. The selected power level, the infrared or red wavelength (depending on the depth of the targeted tissues), and the regularity of the sessions remain the key parameters for optimizing the effects on the skin, wounds, and diabetic pain.

See also:

• Wound and Tissue Healing Through Photobiomodulation
• Photobiomodulation and Chronic Pain: What the Science Says
• Photobiomodulation and Neurological Disorders
• Scientific research associated with photobiomodulation

The purpose of this article is to provide information on the available scientific data. It does not constitute personalized professional health advice. If you experience complications related to diabetes, it is recommended that you consult a qualified specialist.