All of the above and more?
Oh, I’m gonna geek out here! I was the chief science officer for a photonics company that basically specialized in what’s called Low Level Light/Laser Therapy (LLLT). Note, the use of “low level” here is only relative to the high intensity lasers used in the medical field for cutting/cauterizing. These “low level” lights still contain incredibly high amounts of energy to be put to use by the body! The infrared sauna you’re talking about would fall under the same category even if it’s weird to think of the invisible parts of the spectrum as light. Admittedly, though, we never studied anything specific to diabetes in my personal research, so I can’t speak directly to those benefits. My experiences revolve more around medical grade cosmetic applications (“smart lipo” surgical procedures, non-invasive body sculpting, dermatology, etc…), pain management, and post-surgical/traumatic injury healing.
The prospects of using light in medical applications are really astonishing, though! We’re actually built to respond to different colors of light. Do you know our bodies are full of compunds called cytochromes, which literally translates to “color cells”. There are all sorts of them, who’s sole function is to absorb specific wavelengths (i.e. “colors”) of light and trigger a cascade of reactions that affect and/or change our bodies. The possibilities run the gamut from the destructive power of the ultraviolet/blue end of the spectrum to the regenerative and healing power of the red/infrared end of the spectrum. For instance, ultraviolet and blue light is generally associated with death and destruction, in both good and bad applications. Just as ultraviolet light can damage your cells and DNA, blue lights can be anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-viral, and they can destroy toxins, too. Green light can break cellular bonds in misformed tissue (scars, cellulite, lipodystrophy, etc…). Orangish red light can stimulate lipolysis (releasing the energy stored in fat cells). And basically all red/infrared light reduces inflammation and triggers cellular healing, cleaning, and regeneration. The best known cytochromes specific to infrared light are cytochromes p450 which stimulates liver metabolism of certain compunds, i.e “detoxification”, and c oxidase. C oxidase isn’t nearly as easily explained in layman’s terms. It doesn’t do any one function. It’s more like the starting point of any number of chain reactions. It basically primes your system for action, which is why is can be tied to a large number of extraordinary benefits. The study of cytochromes and the roles they play is still relatively new, so who knows what we haven’t even discovered about them yet…
Unfortunately, here’s the kicker… While both those cytochromes mentioned can be activated by infrared light, it’s not the BEST or most effective way to activate them. You can effect more action from those cytochromes using visible light, not infrared. Yet this is largely the science the healing and detox properties of infrared treatments are marketed on. P450 actually responds best to blue light (it’s named for it’s peak 450nm wavelength), and c-oxidase peaks in the orange/red 635nm and 660nm. So you will get some benefit from the infrared, but it’s not ideal. Infrared mostly just feels good because it’s warming. It’s like putting a heating pad on sore muscles… Feels awesome, but doesn’t really treat the underlying problem.
There are other ways in which LLLTs work, too, but they’re not nearly as well documented as the cytochrome aspect. One, is that the energy absorbed from the lights kind of jump starts cellular metabolism. And please don’t confuse that phrase with weight loss, it’s more about giving your body more power to do all the things it’s supposed to do, but generally stops doing efficiently as we age. Basically, oxygen molecules near the skin absorb the energy from the light and it makes their electrons jump to higher shell, creating what are called highly reactive oxygen species. This means that those oxygen molecules are really happy to give up those electrons that they’re barely holding onto at this point, and they happily dump them into the mitochondria. Mitochondria are called “the power house”, because it’s where all the energy we need is converted into a usable form. So after exposure to those lights, it’s like recharging your batteries so you’ve got the energy to heal, purge toxins, boost your immune system, create hormones and other communication factors, and a multitude of other functions so our body systems work better.
My favorite “freaky science” mechanism of action of these LLLTs is through employing Noiger Frequencies! This is one of the least understood aspects of life that is just generally accepted as true now in the world of science. Living things respond to different frequencies of music… and light!.. in surprising ways. Think back to the old common science fair experiment of “do plants grow better to classical music?”. (Mythbusters declared they actually prefer hard rock/metal!). Since light moves in waves, just like sound, you can also adjust the frequency at which it is emitted. I was looking for a graphic to insert here to illustrate this point came came across this website which actually explains the medical use of Noiger Frequencies really well: Pulsation Frequencies - Shine With Light This particular graphic shows you how different frequencies of light can affect different systems.
I don’t know how commonly Noiger Frequencies are employed by other manufacturers, but we considered then pretty integral to our products. We even included an AUX input jack in the units we intended for Chiropractors (they just love alternative treatment options!), so the doctors could customize the treatment sessions to the patient. I wish I knew more about how infrared saunas are constructed/engineered. I don’t 100% even know if it’s possible to modulate the ceramic/copper plates that way.
And you asked about the sweating/detox aspect… It’s not actually true that you sweat out toxins. It’s a widely believed myth. Sweat is really just mostly vital water, salt, protein, and carbs. It does also contain urea, though, which is really good for your skin! And sweating does promote circulation, so even though you’re losing some vital nutrients and not detoxing, there are still some benefits to be gained from it.
In terms of diabetes benefits, I only know how the red/infrared spectrum affects me. I was always a massive fan! (I can’t really get behind a device that doesn’t have visible red light, too, though.) I definitely noticed increased insulin sensitivity, but I always attributed that to the anti-inflammatory and pain relieving aspects. For about 12 years now I’ve been fighting a severe inflammation issue that no doctor had been able to diagnose or treat, so the anti-inflammatory aspect of LLLT had a massive impact on my diabetes, since inflammation causes insulin-resistance. (I just finally got the confirmation that I’m actually allergic to all insulin sold in the US because they feed the genetically modified e. Coli bacteria that produce said insulin with potato-based maltodextrin. Isn’t that a kicker for a T1???) Since my situation is unique there, I think, I’m not sure other diabetics would see the same results. Of the other mechanics of action I mentioned, I have no way of knowing if any particular device (infrared sauna in this case) is optimized for the best results. Any individual cytochrome has just a few wavelengths of light it responds ideally to. Just because a light is infrared, doesn’t mean it’s emitting a lot of energy in the exact right wavelength of infrared light that will trigger a beneficial response. And who knows if the manufactures even considered Noiger Frequencies… Basically, not all devices are created equal. So even if there are established benefits for diabetics, there’s a big chance that any given piece of equipment might not be able to achieve those results. Your mileage may vary.
As to the pump, I would definitely disconnect if you’re turning the heat up. The pump itself can handle the energy of the infrared light, as infrared light is known safe to electronic. It’s at the opposite end of the spectrum as the potentially damaging frequencies. You gotta remember that even sunlight is more than half infrared light, and it’s the blue/ultraviolet end that can cause the most problems. However, the listed operating temp is only up to like 113°F. You’ll get an alarm if it detects more than and won’t deliver insulin until it’s back in operating range. It will take a little while for the heat to penetrate the pump and raise the internal temp, so short periods should be fine, but I can’t imagine it’s worth it.
