At-Home Self-Applied Photobiomodulation Device for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes – Report of 4 Cases

Abstract Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) incidence is increasing with the rising global prevalence of diabetes. In spite of following best practice standard of care, most DFU are slow to heal. Photobiomodulation (PBM), previously known as low-level laser therapy, has been shown to accelerate healing of acute or chronic wounds, and specifically diabetic foot ulcers. However, the frequent applications required, translates to frequent visits at the clinic which are difficult for patients with DFU. In the following case series, we present our preliminary experience with a recently approved (Health-Canada) consumer home-use PBM device as an adjuvant to standard treatment. Four male patients presented at the clinic (67-84 years old) with diabetic leg/foot ulcers. The PBM treatment (808nm, 250mW peak power, 15KHz, 5J/min, ray size 4.5×1.0cm2) was applied by the patients themselves at the clinic or at home. In the cases presented here all wounds closed within 1-3 weeks with no reported adverse events. Patients found routine easy to follow and painless, and in wounds that involved pain reported pain reduction after 1-3 treatments. Based on our previous experience with these patients self-applied PBM as an adjunct therapy, led to accelerated healing and rapid pain alleviation compared to standard care alone. In summary, hard-to-heal diabetic wounds are a burden for patients, caregivers, and costly for the healthcare system. These observations support the view that the home-use device can be easily integrated as an adjuvant treatment to standard care at the clinic or home and most importantly, encouraged patient’s involvement in his/her own care.