✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026

Diabetic Wound Healing with MLS Laser — Real Case Studies from Our Practice

Every year, more than 100,000 Americans with diabetes lose a limb to amputation. For specialized treatment, see our diabetic foot ulcer treatment Michigan. The vast majority were preventable. Diabetic wounds that don’t heal aren’t just inconvenient — they are life-threatening emergencies that require aggressive, advanced intervention. Here’s how we treat them.

Case Study #1: The Wound That Wouldn’t Heal

A 72-year-old patient with Type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy came to us with a plantar (bottom-of-foot) wound that had been treated with standard wound care dressings for over 3 months without closure. Her previous provider had been changing dressings weekly but the wound was not progressing.

Our approach:

• Wound debridement and assessment (in-office, same day)
• Offloading with a total contact cast to eliminate pressure on the wound
• MLS laser therapy 2x/week — dual-wavelength laser to accelerate cellular healing and reduce inflammation
• Coordinated management with her PCP at Vassallo Medical Group to optimize blood sugar control

Result: Wound closed in 6 weeks. Three months without progress, then 6 weeks to closure with our protocol. The difference was laser therapy combined with proper glycemic management.

Case Study #2: Coordinated Care at the Bloomfield Hills Location

A patient with Type 1 diabetes and a complex non-healing wound on the medial ankle was referred to us by Grunberger Diabetes Institute, which shares our Bloomfield Hills office. This coordination model — same building, shared communication, joint treatment planning — produced results faster than any single-provider approach could.

Treatment: MLS laser + EMTT magnetotransduction for deep tissue stimulation + aggressive blood sugar optimization from Grunberger + vascular assessment to rule out PAD as a contributing factor.

Result: Wound progression within 2 weeks. Full closure at 8 weeks. Patient avoided hospitalization and preserved the limb.

Why MLS Laser Accelerates Diabetic Wound Healing

Diabetic wounds heal slowly because of three biological failures: poor circulation, impaired immune function, and neuropathy that hides warning signs. MLS laser therapy addresses all three:

• Stimulates microcirculation: Laser energy increases blood flow to the wound bed
• Reduces inflammation: Anti-inflammatory wavelength (808nm) reduces chronic wound inflammation
• Accelerates cellular repair: 905nm wavelength stimulates ATP production in healing cells
• No heat, no pain: The dual-wavelength system is safe for neuropathic patients who can’t feel temperature

The Prevention Protocol — Before Wounds Develop

For every patient with a healed wound, we implement a strict prevention protocol:

This content saves limbs. If you know someone with diabetes who isn’t seeing a podiatrist regularly — please share this page with them. Annual foot exams are covered by Medicare and can prevent catastrophic outcomes.

Clinical Foot Care Beyond Products: Michigan’s Balance Foot & Ankle

Michigan patients using foot care products — wound care supplies, topical treatments, foot supplements, compression garments, orthotics, or stretching devices — as part of their foot health routine benefit from occasional clinical evaluation to ensure the products they are using are appropriate for their specific condition and that no developing pathology requires professional intervention. At Balance Foot & Ankle, our clinical evaluation confirms the diagnosis, assesses whether current product-based management is adequate, and identifies cases where professional treatment would produce better outcomes than continued self-management.

For Michigan patients managing chronic conditions — diabetic foot care, neuropathy management, post-surgical recovery, or persistent tendinopathy — regular podiatric check-ins at appropriate intervals ensure that small changes are caught before they become significant complications. The right interval varies by condition and risk level: high-risk diabetic patients benefit from quarterly visits; stable patients using products for minor chronic conditions may need only annual check-ins. At Balance Foot & Ankle, we help patients identify the appropriate visit frequency for their specific situation. Livingston and Oakland County patients can call (810) 206-1402 to schedule at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills office.

Michigan patients can access expert diabetic foot care in Michigan and shockwave and laser therapy in Michigan at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our board-certified podiatrists serve Howell (4330 E Grand River) and Bloomfield Hills (43494 Woodward Ave #208). Schedule an appointment online or call (810) 206-1402 for same-week availability.

Medical References & Sources

• American Diabetes Association — Foot Complications
• PubMed Research — Diabetic Foot Care
• American Podiatric Medical Association — Diabetic Foot

Clinical References

1. Zati A, Fortuna D. MLS laser therapy in the treatment of chronic wounds. Energy Health. 2010;6:16-21.
2. Loreti EH, et al. Use of laser therapy in the healing process: a literature review. Photomed Laser Surg. 2015;33(2):104-116.
3. Armstrong DG, et al. Diabetic foot ulcers and their recurrence. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(24):2367-2375.

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.