Objective: To describe the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in an 81-year-old male using low-level laser therapy (LLLT).
Clinical Features: An 81-year-old male with long-standing type 2 diabetes mellitus had bilateral diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) of the hands and feet along with an ulcer on his right foot. He had been prescribed several medications by his primary care physician, with little relief. He expressed interest in pursuing a non-pharmaceutical approach and asked if low-level laser therapy could be a possible intervention.
Interventions and Outcome: He received 11 treatments with LLLT over a 6-week period. The protocol used for the LLLT was 3000 Hz for 5 minutes on both hands and feet for 20 minutes total. The post-therapy re-evaluation revealed improvement in the patient’s symptomatology bilaterally.
Conclusion: The case suggests that LLLT may have positively affected this patient’s diabetic neuropathy symptoms. While other treatment options are offered to patients, LLLT should be considered a possible low-risk intervention. LLLT is showing promise as a possible treatment for diabetic neuropathy and warrants further study.
Author keywords: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy; Type 2 Diabetes; Low-Level Laser Therapy
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