Learn how red and near-infrared light therapy may support diabetes management by improving circulation and reducing inflammation.
Nearly 100 million U.S. adults have diabetes or pre-diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diabetes is a chronic condition marked by high blood-glucose levels. It arises when the body makes too little insulin—the hormone that moves glucose out of the bloodstream—allowing sugar to accumulate and, over time, damage tissues.
There are three main types: type 1, type 2, and gestational. Whatever the type, red and near-infrared (NIR) light may ease some complications by acting at the cellular level.
While lifestyle changes alone can control glucose for some people with type 2 diabetes, medications or insulin are often required. Many drugs carry side effects, and no therapy yet eliminates the disease; symptom control is the current goal.
Red/NIR light—also called low-level light therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation—uses high-output LEDs to deliver 630–660 nm (red) and 810–850 nm (NIR) wavelengths to bare skin. These bands appear to offer the widest reported benefits with minimal adverse effects. Combining both ranges gives superficial skin support plus deeper tissue penetration; NIR can reach bone and cartilage.
Retired University of Colorado physiologist Thomas Burke, Ph.D., reports that NIR light can raise local blood flow where applied. Better perfusion may aid slow-healing diabetic foot ulcers, which affect roughly 15 % of people with diabetes. Diabetes often lowers nitric-oxide availability, narrowing vessels and contributing to peripheral arterial disease and neuropathy; enhanced micro-circulation could counter these changes.
Further reading:
This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Poor blood flow and neuropathy can make people with diabetes more prone to foot ulcers or infections that, if left unchecked, may require extreme measures such as amputation. LLLT may improve circulation by encouraging the formation of tiny capillaries in treated areas, supporting oxygen and nutrient delivery to peripheral regions, including the feet, which often bear the brunt of diabetic complications.
Reduced blood flow in diabetes can impair mitochondrial function—the “energy factories” inside most cells. When mitochondria work normally, they produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the fuel cells need for repair and replication.
Mitochondrial dysfunction, sometimes called poor cellular energy, is a key driver of diabetic neuropathy, so supporting normal mitochondrial activity is important. Chronic blood-sugar imbalance stresses cells, limiting their ability to function and self-repair.
Low-level light therapy may ease mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing ATP production, which can energize cells and trigger beneficial biological processes. When mitochondrial performance improves, it may support ulcer healing, ease neuropathic pain, and help restore peripheral nerve function.
Before LLLT, loss of sensation in diabetic feet was viewed as progressive and irreversible. Standard care still often relies on anti-inflammatory drugs that blunt pain without tackling the root problem—abnormal nerve signaling linked to inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Near-infrared light is now used to address diabetic neuropathy. A 2015 study by Iranian researchers reported that NIR therapy can lessen neuropathic pain and promote regeneration of damaged nerve cells.
An earlier Japanese study also examined LLLT and nerve regeneration. It noted that unstable blood sugar can create oxidative stress and inflammation; NIR light appears to act as an antioxidant, calming inflammation and creating conditions that may favor nerve regrowth.
Diabetes can dry, crack, and thicken skin, leading to painful calluses. Red light therapy can stimulate natural collagen production, allowing damaged skin to be gradually replaced as new cells form. Better blood flow and cellular activity further support healthy skin renewal.
Diabetic foot ulcers may develop when poor circulation, immune compromise, neuropathy, and footwear pressure combine. Infected or necrotic tissue must be removed, and new tissue growth benefits from tight glucose control, robust mitochondrial function, and adequate collagen production.
Collagen stimulation with red light Mayo Clinic: Diabetic neuropathy overview
Supporting health benefits from a resilient immune system, and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may help in several ways. For example, it can encourage stem-cell production; these master cells remain dormant until recruited to replace or repair tissues throughout the body.
The thyroid also influences immunity, and LLLT might contribute to hormonal balance. People with diabetes face a higher risk of hypothyroidism, a sluggish thyroid that can impair mitochondrial activity and overall cell performance.
Additionally, LLLT has been linked to improved liver regeneration, potentially enhancing waste removal, lowering systemic inflammation, and easing pressure on the immune system.
LLLT is not a quick fix. Some people notice relief after one session, yet optimal changes usually emerge gradually as cells regenerate and function improves—often over weeks to months. Several weekly sessions may help manage diabetic complications and support sustained remission.
