Health

Can Red Light Therapy Prevent Blood Sugar Spikes?

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A specific wavelength of red light, when shone on a person’s back for 15 minutes, can significantly reduce blood sugar levels after meals, according to a new study published on February 20 in the Journal of Biophotonics.

Researchers found that red light therapy had dual benefits in blood sugar control: A single dose reduced overall blood glucose levels and how high blood sugar levels peaked after a glucose tolerance test, which mimics the body’s response to a meal.

Though the study was conducted in healthy people without diabetes, the treatment — which involves no injections or pills — has the potential for use with diabetes control after meals, according to the lead author, Michael Powner, PhD, a senior lecturer in neurobiology in the school of health and psychological sciences at the City University of London. “This is important, as very high blood glucose levels have the potential to damage tissues around our body,” says Dr. Powner. These fluctuations in blood sugar spikes also contribute to aging, he adds.

The Healing Power of Red Light Has Been Studied in Cancer, Depression, and Many Other Health Conditions

The red light therapy tested in the study is a form of photobiomodulation (PBM), which uses light to stimulate living things into healing themselves.

 It’s been studied in many different conditions, including cancer, macular degeneration, depression, wound healing, skin conditions, and different areas of dentistry.

To explore the impact of 670 nanometers (nm) of red light on blood sugar levels, the researchers recruited 30 healthy participants who were not taking any medications and had no known metabolic conditions, including diabetes. They were randomized into two groups of 15 people each.

At the start of the trial, both groups took a fasting oral glucose test to establish a baseline. Participants consumed only water for at least 10 hours, then on an empty stomach drank a syrupy 5 ounce drink that contained 75 grams (g) of sugar. Then they recorded their blood sugar levels every 15 minutes over the next two hours.

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