By: Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | Hollywood, Florida
Florida has one of the higher rates of diagnosed diabetes in the United States, and Broward County’s population, including the large retirement communities of Hallandale Beach, Aventura, and Hollywood, reflects this reality. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the nerve damage that can develop as a complication of chronically elevated blood glucose, affects an estimated 50 percent of people with diabetes over their lifetime according to the American Diabetes Association. Common presentations include burning, numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet and legs, with progression often associated with impaired balance, increased fall risk, and, in more advanced cases, contribution to diabetic foot complications. Hollywood Laser Pain Center offers the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol as part of a non-pharmacological care approach for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Photobiomodulation has been studied for peripheral neuropathy across a range of clinical presentations. Earlier evaluation of neuropathy symptoms is generally associated with a broader range of care options. Patients who are managing diabetic neuropathy are encouraged to discuss the full range of available options with their healthcare team.
At Hollywood Laser Pain Center, I see a significant volume of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy from across Broward County. I communicate with patients in English, Spanish, Russian, and Haitian Creole so that members of Hollywood’s diverse community can receive care in a language they fully understand.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is generally understood to develop through mechanisms tied to the metabolic consequences of hyperglycemia. Chronically elevated blood glucose has been associated with damage to the small blood vessels that supply peripheral nerves, a process described in the literature as microvascular injury. When nerve fibers receive reduced oxygen and nutrients through this vascular damage, they can become dysfunctional and may progressively degenerate.
The longest nerve fibers, which extend to the feet, are typically affected first, which is why diabetic neuropathy classically begins in the feet and progresses upward in what clinicians describe as a stocking-glove distribution. Published clinical reviews have noted that current pharmacological options for diabetic neuropathy provide incomplete symptom relief for many patients and have documented limitations for long-term management.
The vascular component of diabetic neuropathy has been one of the reasons photobiomodulation has been studied in this population. Research has examined whether laser energy can influence microvascular function in tissues affected by the metabolic changes of diabetes.
At Hollywood Laser Pain Center, the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol uses near-infrared laser energy delivered to the affected areas as part of a non-pharmacological care plan. Published research has examined photobiomodulation at both the vascular and cellular levels. At the vascular level, studies have examined the relationship between laser energy and nitric oxide production in vessel walls, a pathway involved in vasodilation and microvascular perfusion. At the cellular level, research has examined the relationship between laser energy and mitochondrial ATP production in nerve cells.
Published research, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining photobiomodulation in peripheral neuropathy, has reported outcomes including changes in pain scores, nerve conduction parameters, and quality-of-life measures. Some studies have also examined imaging or biopsy-based measures of nerve fiber density following photobiomodulation. The body of clinical research on photobiomodulation for diabetic neuropathy continues to develop, and treatment plans at Hollywood Laser Pain Center are determined on an individual basis following clinical evaluation.
Medications commonly prescribed for diabetic neuropathy, including gabapentin, pregabalin, and duloxetine, work by altering neurotransmitter activity related to pain perception in the central nervous system. They are generally not described as interventions aimed at the vascular or cellular processes associated with the underlying nerve damage. Cochrane reviews on gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain have reported that a meaningful proportion of patients experience pain reduction, while a notable proportion either do not respond adequately or discontinue treatment due to adverse effects. Adverse-effect tolerance is a particular consideration in older patients managing multiple medications.
One clinically important consequence of diabetic neuropathy is its impact on proprioception, the sensory feedback that tells the brain where the feet are positioned in space. When sensory fibers in the feet are damaged, the neuromuscular protection against falls can be compromised. The CDC has reported that falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in adults over 65, and peripheral neuropathy is a documented independent risk factor.
For Broward County’s senior diabetic population, addressing sensory function and balance is part of the broader clinical conversation about maintaining functional independence. Care planning at Hollywood Laser Pain Center considers these functional dimensions alongside symptom management.
Visit reliefnowlaser.com/providers/hollywood/ to learn more. Patient education content is available at youtube.com/@ReliefNowNation. Contact Hollywood Laser Pain Center at 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood FL 33020 | 954-925-7333.
About the Author
Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood FL 33020 | 954-925-7333 | reliefnowlaser.com/providers/hollywood/
Dr. Mark earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Logan College of Chiropractic with honors and has practiced for more than 27 years in Hollywood, Florida. He holds certifications in Graston Technique and acupuncture, is a former collegiate football player at Wake Forest University, and practices at Broward Medical and Rehab. He communicates with patients in English, Spanish, Russian, and Haitian Creole. He is a provider in the national ReliefNow® network.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Effectiveness of treatments may vary depending on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified healthcare professional to discuss your specific medical needs and treatment options.
