I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes I guess a couple years ago now. When my blood sugar was over 450 initially I had numbness and pain on the bottom of my feet. Now it’s mostly controlled (fasting blood sugar runs 130-150) most days. A1C has gone from 11.4 to 6.7 as of a few weeks ago. But I’m getting the pain and numbness again in my feet. Va doc suggested I might try red light therapy but they won’t cover that. Don’t want to spend a bunch on something that doesn’t work at all. Thought I’d see if anyone here has tried it.

It doesn't sound like something I would pay for, and according to this entry at the Cleveland Clinic, the studies aren't conclusive and the ones that are have not had a placebo group. Here's the link if you're interested.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org...14-red-light-therapy

I've used, and continue to use red light therapy, but not for diabetes. I used it for brain injury purposes. I can report that the migraines that plagued me for 35 years went away after about 2 years of treatments. I can't say categorically that this was due to the therapy, but it all worked out for me.

I fall asleep most nights with this shining on my backside. Don't know if it does anything but it gives me a warm feeling. There's lots of resources available to "cure" T2D but involves making some conscious food choices. First principles. If you went to the doctor for a pain in your foot, I would hope they would suggest removing the pebble in your shoe rather than prescribing a pain med. I'm not that confident of that though.

https://a.co/d/8tRCLpn

Get some pain now and then, some of it may be due to medication, be interested to know if it works as well, dad has neuropathy in the feet, lots of pain, I'd get him one if it works.

That pain and numbness is caused by low blood flow. Most likely there is some plaque build up, and the lumen/inside of the arteries is reduced in size. I know that quality Natto-kinase does dissolve plaque build up over time. Apparently 3/4 of N-K on the market comes from China, and has no therapeutic value. I know that Designs for Health version, Natto Serrazime, works well.

A friend was having similar issues, and this fixed the problem. Took about two months for any change at all, but after 6 months of use he was back to normal.

Were you recommended any specific therapy unit? You can spend anywhere to a few bucks to several thousand dollars. A basic LED panel might run you only about $60, cheap enough for you to at least try it out.

I use two red light panels, actually sold as "grow lights" for growing you own, so to speak. Just $60 apiece, as I said.

Red Light therapy? Isn't this how young soldiers contract STD's?

.

quote:

Originally posted by TigerDore:
Red Light therapy? Isn't this how young soldiers contract STD's?

.

That kind of therapy requires more cardiovascular action and also isn't covered by insurance...

There are many treatments available for peripheral neuropathy. Most are minimally effective. Checking B12 levels is advisable. The current approach is to prescribe Gabapentin.

I would try keto or carnivore diet first if you haven’t.

Ever since I've been on cholesterol meds, my recovery from physical exertion takes longer and I have increased muscle soreness. If I use the red light after a hard day, recovery is usually overnight. I'm not dragging my ass due to soreness and fatigue the following days. It would take me 2-3 days to recovery if I don't use it. I would have to say it is more than just improved circulation. It's more effective that long hot showers or soaking in the hot tub. Takes less time too.

I can't use it before bed though, throws off my sleep cycle.

The light frequency is specific for therapy for it to be more than just a heat lamp. I would suggest you find a way to try it if possible. I read once that Planet Fitness had red light booths. Not a member so I can't confirm.

The light I use is from Platinum LED. Good quality product, pricey but not Chinese from what I could tell. They do a 60 day trial. I thought it was a gamble at the time 3 years ago. Looking back, I'm glad I did it. Wife is still on the fence about it, but she doesn't exert herself like do.

ETA: That lamp SigSentry posted looks like it is worth trying. It would take more clock time than a bigger unit, but could give you an indication that RLT works for you at a lower overhead.

-TVz

TVzombie, I am also on a statin which causes the same recovery/pain issues. I started lifting weights again a few weeks ago(after years away) near when the foot pain started. Maybe it is related. The doc didn’t suggest a specific device, more a she had read some studies saying folks had some luck with red light therapy. She also suggested Ubiquinol/CoQ10 to help with the muscle pain from the statins. Maybe it will get better after I start taking it.

I take 2 200 MG ubiquinol softgels every morning.
Find a brand you respond to. I have a subscription on Amazon for Qunol.
I feel it when I get laxed about taking it.

-TVz

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
That kind of therapy requires more cardiovascular action....

Believe the amount of cardio is directly related to the way the therapy is applied.....


There are studies that show that cannibus will reduce the pain from Neuropathy, should that be the issue, which it sounds like it's nerve pain.

I've been looking into it for my dad, he's 85, lots of nerve pain, they have him on pain meds for it. Appears that most effective is smoking but CBD gummies with THC at higher levels helped too, just not to the extent of having a puff or two.

Pretty sure I'm not going to have him rolling one up so we'll take him to a MJ Doc get his med card and a bag of THC gummies and see how it works.

Plenty of the test subjects showed better sleep, which is a big issue with neuropathic pain in the feet.

quote:

Originally posted by TVzombie:
Ever since I've been on cholesterol meds, my recovery from physical exertion takes longer and I have increased muscle soreness.

quote:

Originally posted by buddy357:
TVzombie, I am also on a statin which causes the same recovery/pain issues. I started lifting weights again a few weeks ago (after years away) near when the foot pain started. Maybe it is related.

I'm curious: Are you guys taking statins because you actually have elevated LDL or triglycerides, or because your doctors told you you should be taking statins "just because?" (May seem an odd question, but, doctors have been known to prescribe statins even in the absence of high LDL or triglycerides.)

Either way: Some things that might relieve the muscle soreness and improve recovery:

• Increased protein intake. A minimum of 0.5g/lb. of bodyweight per day. 1g/lb. is better. Even more for those over forty years of age.
  
• Creatine supplementation may help
  
• BCAA. While it's effect in enhancing performance during workouts has now largely been dismissed, there is some evidence BCAA supplementation may help relieve DOMS.
  
• There is some evidence Taurine supplementation may relieve DOMS, particularly in conjunction with BCAA

quote:

I'm curious: Are you guys taking statins because you actually have elevated LDL or triglycerides, or because your doctors told you you should be taking statins "just because?" (May seem an odd question, but, doctors have been known to prescribe statins even in the absence of high LDL or triglycerides.)

There are some known vascular benefits to statins which is why doctors are recommending them for type 2 diabetes. The same could be said about low dose blood pressure meds for type 2 with no elevated BP. As for the peripheral neuropathy, the king of drugs for nerve pain is Lyrica. It is a powerful drug not without side effects when doses get into therapeutic levels.

There is no cure for peripheral neuropathy and the only thing you can do is manage the symptoms and your blood sugar. Marijauna may be a viable alternative, but I have no first hand experience and most likely never will. The rest of the garbage I’ve seen is meant to separate you from your money and most likely any positive results are primarily from the placebo effect.

quote:

Originally posted by dking271:
There are some known vascular benefits to statins which is why doctors are recommending them for type 2 diabetes.

Ironically, long-term statins use has been linked to incidences of sudden-onset Type 2 diabetes:

quote:

Despite the safety and relative tolerability of statins, observational studies, clinical trials and meta-analyses indicate an increased risk of developing new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after long-term statin treatment. It has been shown that statins can impair insulin sensitivity and secretion by pancreatic β-cells and increase insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. The mechanisms involved in these processes include, among others, impaired Ca2+ signaling in pancreatic β-cells, down-regulation of GLUT-4 in adipocytes and compromised insulin signaling. In addition, it has also been described that statins’ impact on epigenetics may also contribute to statin-induced T2DM via differential expression of microRNAs.

Full report: Statin Treatment-Induced Development of Type 2 Diabetes: From Clinical Evidence to Mechanistic Insights

Insulin resistance can trigger obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol (another irony), metabolic syndrome, and, of course, Type 2 diabetes.