Red Light Therapy Can Lower Post-Meal Blood Sugar by Nearly 30 Percent

A no-pill no-injection therapy shows promise for improving blood sugar control potentially benefiting people with diabetes

Key Takeaways

• A 15-minute exposure to therapeutic red light after meals reduced blood sugar levels by almost 30% in healthy volunteers

• Red light therapy has previously been studied for other conditions, including wound healing and depression

• While its effectiveness in managing diabetes is not yet confirmed, researchers hope it could become a valuable supplementary therapy in the future

Study Overview

A new study published in the Journal of Biophotonics on February 20 reveals that a specific wavelength of red light can significantly lower blood sugar levels after meals. Researchers found that shining a red light on participants’ backs for 15 minutes reduced post-meal blood sugar spikes by nearly 30%.

Though the study was conducted on healthy individuals without diabetes, lead researcher Michael Powner, PhD, a senior lecturer in neurobiology at City University of London, believes the findings could have implications for diabetes management. “This is important as high blood glucose levels can damage tissues throughout the body,” says Dr. Powner. He also highlights how blood sugar spikes contribute to aging.

Red Light Therapy’s Healing Potential

The study used a form of red light therapy known as photobiomodulation (PBM), which uses light to stimulate biological healing processes. PBM has been investigated for numerous conditions, including cancer, macular degeneration, depression, wound healing, skin conditions, and dental care.

To assess red light’s impact on blood sugar, researchers worked with 30 healthy participants. These individuals were randomly divided into two groups, both of which underwent fasting oral glucose tests to establish a baseline. After fasting, participants consumed a 75-gram glucose drink, and their blood sugar levels were tracked for two hours.

The trial included a follow-up test where one group received a 15-minute exposure to red light (670 nanometers) on their upper backs, while the placebo group had no actual light exposure.

Red Light Therapy Reduced Blood Sugar Spikes

Compared to the placebo group, those exposed to red light saw a 28% decrease in overall blood sugar levels and a 12% reduction in peak glucose spikes after glucose consumption. This suggests red light therapy may improve glucose tolerance, though the long-term impact and effectiveness for people with diabetes remain unclear.

According to Dr. Marilyn Tan, an endocrinologist at Stanford Health Care, the study shows promising results in healthy participants. However, more research is needed to understand how red light therapy might benefit individuals with diabetes and whether it could lead to sustained blood sugar improvements.

How Red Light Therapy Might Work

Previous studies have shown that red light (650-900 nanometers) increases mitochondrial production of ATP, the energy source for many cellular processes. Researchers believe this increased ATP production may trigger systemic changes in the body, improving glucose metabolism in a phenomenon called the “abscopal effect.” This effect suggests that localized treatments can have widespread impacts on other areas of the body.

Dr. Powner adds that red light exposure may influence chemical signals in the blood, leading to changes in how glucose is utilized throughout the body.

Potential Diabetes Treatment and Future Research

While the study’s findings are promising, further research is necessary to explore whether red light therapy could be used as an add-on treatment for diabetes. If the results are validated in larger trials involving people with diabetes, red light exposure before meals could help reduce blood sugar spikes, possibly decreasing the need for insulin or medications.

Dr. Tan emphasizes the need for longer-term studies that involve participants with diabetes and consider the effects of combining red light therapy with existing treatments like insulin. She also notes that it is essential to understand the long-term effects of repeated red light exposure.

If future research confirms these findings, red light therapy could become a useful tool in diabetes management, potentially reducing reliance on traditional medications.