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According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, over 1.3 million Australians are affected by diabetes, most of which accommodate the high blood sugar Type 2. The condition is highly manageable, and even reversible through variations of lifestyle changes and medication designed to stabilise blood sugar levels. Recently, a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Biophotonics suggests that red light therapy benefits processes of lowering blood sugar levels. In this article, our team at Rojo Light Therapy Australia delves into the study’s findings and their potential implications.
Dr. Michael Powner, PhD - senior lecturer in Neurobiology at the University of London - stated that their research on RLT blood sugar control stemmed from a 2019 study, highlighting the link between sunlight exposure and improved glucose metabolism. This was further connected to another study published in 2022 stating that red light exposure reduced systemic glucose spikes after feeding in bumblebees. From there, Dr. Powner and his team sought how this translates to humans.
For this study, researchers rounded up 30 participants, with an average age of 40 with no metabolic conditions or use of any medications. These participants were then grouped into two: a light therapy and placebo group.
In the initial phase of the study, both groups completed two oral glucose tolerance tests over seven days. This test, frequently used to diagnose diabetes, determines how well the body is processing sugar. For the test, participants had to fast for a minimum of 10 hours, before ingesting a drink containing a controlled amount of sugar. Afterwards, participants measured and recorded their blood sugar levels every 15 minutes for two hours, creating a baseline reading.
Subsequently, another blood glucose test was administered - though, this time, participants underwent either light therapy or a placebo. The light therapy group had red light applied directly to the bare skin of their upper backs for 15 minutes whereas the placebo group underwent the same scenario except with the light turned off. Both treatments were administered 45 minutes before the blood glucose test.
Comparing the results of the oral glucose tolerance tests and their baseline readings between the two groups, the light therapy group had a 27.7% drop in blood glucose levels for over two hours. Meanwhile, the placebo group only had a 7.3% reduction over the same period.
Furthermore, red light therapy also appeared advantageous in reducing blood sugar spikes after glucose ingestion. The group that received red light therapy had less extreme sugar spikes and had a 7.5% reduction at the peak of their blood glucose levels.
These findings suggest that red light therapy offers a promising alternative to individuals managing high blood sugar levels. However, the study's limitations must be acknowledged, particularly its focus on healthy individuals and its small sample size. Future research with larger sample sizes involving participants with elevated blood sugar levels is still necessary to explore the full extent of red light therapy benefits for improving blood sugar levels.
To learn more about other red light therapy benefits, visit our ROJO AU blog. You can also contact us for more questions or inquiries about our red light therapy panels.
