By Dr. Goodman, DC, and Dr. Bradberry, DC | ReliefNow Laser Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina
North Carolina has diabetes prevalence rates above the national average, and the nerve damage that often follows, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, affects roughly half of people with diabetes over their lifetime, according to the American Diabetes Association. For patients in Charlotte, Pineville, Matthews, Ballantyne, and Gastonia living with the burning, numbness, tingling, and weakness of diabetic neuropathy, the standard clinical response has long been pharmaceutical management that targets the pain signal rather than the nerve damage behind it. ReliefNow Laser Charlotte offers a drug-free option, Class IV laser therapy, for patients who want to address neuropathy without relying on medication alone.
Dr. Goodman’s post-graduate training in nutrition adds a clinical dimension to how the practice approaches diabetic neuropathy. The metabolic drivers associated with the condition, including chronically elevated blood glucose, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation, are influenced by dietary choices and nutritional status. Addressing the metabolic environment alongside laser therapy reflects how the clinic looks at care from more than one angle.
What Is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and What Drives the Nerve Damage?
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy develops through microvascular injury. Chronically elevated blood glucose damages the small blood vessels that supply peripheral nerves. When nerve fibers are deprived of adequate oxygen and nutrients, they begin to malfunction and degenerate. The longest nerve fibers, which extend to the feet, are usually affected first.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes that current pharmacological options for diabetic neuropathy provide incomplete relief for many patients. If the underlying injury involves impaired microcirculation, then therapies aimed at supporting blood flow to the nerves are an area of ongoing clinical interest and research.
How Does Laser Therapy Work for Diabetic Neuropathy?
Class IV laser therapy, also called photobiomodulation, is studied for its effects at the vascular and cellular levels. In the research literature, photobiomodulation is described as influencing nitric oxide activity in vessel walls, which is associated with blood flow in the microvascular network, and as stimulating mitochondrial activity within cells. These are general mechanisms described in studies of the therapy, not guaranteed results for any individual patient.
Research on photobiomodulation for neuropathy has been growing. A 2021 systematic review in Frontiers in Neurology reported improvements in pain, nerve conduction velocity, and quality of life among the neuropathy patients studied, and a 2017 study in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology examined changes in nerve fiber density. Individual outcomes vary, and these studies describe research populations rather than a promise of specific results.
What Does Dr. Goodman’s Nutrition Training Add for Neuropathy Patients?
Oxidative stress and systemic inflammation are associated with the progression of diabetic neuropathy. Nutritional approaches studied in this area include alpha-lipoic acid, B vitamins, and anti-inflammatory dietary patterns. Dr. Goodman’s post-graduate nutrition training informs how he addresses these metabolic factors alongside laser therapy, which reflects the clinic’s interest in approaching the condition from several directions.
Why Does Fall Risk Matter for Charlotte’s Diabetic Population?
The CDC reports that falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults over 65. Peripheral neuropathy can impair proprioception, the body’s sense of where it is in space, which is part of what protects against falls. For older patients, sensory nerve function and balance are part of the broader conversation about mobility and independence, which is one reason neuropathy care often extends beyond pain alone.
To learn more about the practice, visit ReliefNow Laser Charlotte or watch its patient education videos on YouTube. ReliefNow Laser Charlotte is located at 4601 Park Rd, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28209, and can be reached at 704-527-7246.
About the Authors
Dr. Eric Goodman, DC, is a graduate of UNC-Charlotte and Palmer College of Chiropractic, with post-graduate training in neurokinetic therapy, acupuncture, laser therapy, rehabilitation, and nutrition. Dr. Douglas Bradberry, DC, graduated from the University of Florida and with honors from Palmer College of Chiropractic, holds the CCSP certification, and has experience in sports medicine, including work with elite athletes. Both are providers in the national ReliefNow network, founded by Dr. Robert Hanopole, DC.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any treatment program.
