Treatment of arteries damaged by diabetes using low-frequency pulsed magnetic therapy with 50 Hz frequency and 5 mT intensity was investigated on an animal model by Turkish team of S. Kavak (2009) at the University of Adana.

In case of damaged arteries, it basically means accelerated process of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Atherosclerotic vascular changes, which among other things are promoted by high blood sugar, lead to narrowing or complete occlusion of the arteries which prevents blood circulation. Those changes appear earlier and are more severe in diabetic patients than in people without diabetes. So diabetic patients have increased chances of heart attack, stroke and non-healing wounds on lower extremities which may sometimes lead to amputation.

This study therefore investigated the effect of low-frequency pulsed magnetic field on mechanical properties of blood vessels and changes of membrane potential. The question was whether greater blood flow through the blood vessels can be guaranteed. With more blood flow comes more oxygen to the heart muscle despite damaged lining (endothelium) of blood vessels and its impaired relaxation as a consequence of diabetes.

Diabetes reduced the relaxation response of thoracic aorta rings. It also affected the membrane potentials of the rings. The study confirmed that treatment with pulsed magnetic field ameliorated the diabetes-induced impairments in the relaxation response of these rings.

According to the authors of this study, low-frequency pulsed magnetic field therapy is therefore appropriate for treatment of damaged blood vessels in patients suffering with diabetes.

Reference: Kavak, S. et al. (2009) Repetitive 50 Hz pulsed electromagnetic field ameliorates the diabetes-induced impairments in the relaxation response of rat thoracic aorta rings. International Journal of Radiation Biology. [Online] 85 (8), 672–679.