Cannabis Oil for Diabetes Treatment and Prevention

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the body’s insulin response and blood sugar levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017) reported that diabetes affects over 30 million people, with 9.4% of cases originating from the United States. Many cases are going undiagnosed each year. The disease increases the risk of medical complications and costs patients about $16,000 per year. Shockingly, diabetes also costs the healthcare system over $300,000 per year. However, there are a variety of substances used to treat diabetes, including cannabis. The benefits of cannabis for health-related conditions has gained traction over the past few years. Cannabis is one of the emerging substances used to treat symptoms associated with diabetes. There has been research to indicate that symptoms of diabetes may be prevented or treated with cannabis.

Prevention of Diabetes

Cannabis may prevent the onset or progression of diabetes. There is also research demonstrating that cannabis oil may also delay the onset of diabetes. Notably, Rajavashisth and colleagues (2012) examined the correlation between diabetes and cannabis use among 10,896 adults between the ages of 20- 59. Data was extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between the years of 1988 through 1994. Participants were divided into four groups, including light cannabis users, heavy cannabis users, past cannabis users, and non-cannabis users. Demographic information and diabetes diagnoses were also obtained.

Researchers found that those who used cannabis were less likely to have a diagnosis of diabetes compared to non-users. Those who used cannabis also had lower body mass index (BMI) scores, suggesting these individuals were also healthier than non-cannabis users. These results suggest that cannabis oil may be used to prevent the onset of diabetes. More research is needed with larger scale studies to demonstrate effectiveness of the drug that can be generalized to multiple populations. There are also cannabis oil treatments for diabetes.

Treatment

 

There is also research suggesting that cannabis oil may be an effective treatment for diabetes and diabetic symptoms. The compounds in cannabis may help with pain associated with neuropathy and controlling blood sugar. Neuropathy is associated with increased pain or numbness in the extremities, namely the hands and feet, which commonly occurs as a symptom of diabetes. A study found that those who used cannabis were less likely to report neuropathic pain associated with diabetes compared to those who did not use cannabis.

Cannabis oil may also be efficacious for controlling blood sugar. Particularly, cannabis oil may reduce inflammation in the pancreas, which improves glucose metabolism. There is less insulin needed when the pancreas is less inflamed. Additionally, there has been research to show that obese rats experienced a significant reduction in weight after being exposed to cannabis. Consequently, these rats had a decrease in pancreas inflammation. Cannabis oil appears to be an alternative treatment for symptoms associated with diabetes.

References

Rajavashisth, T. B., Shaheen, M., Norris, K. C., Pan, D., Sinha, S. K., Ortega, J., & Friedman, T.         C. (2012). Decreased prevalence of diabetes in marijuana users: cross-sectional data from    the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III. BMJ Open, 2(1),            doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000494

Fachetti, L. (2018). Diabetes and Marijuana: A Possible Treatment? The Diabetes Council.             Retrieved from: https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/

American Diabetes Association. (2015). Standards of medical care in diabetes—2015 abridged    for primary care providers. Clinical diabetes: A publication of the American Diabetes Association, 33(2), 13- 22. doi: 10.2337/dc16-S005

Comelli, F., Bettoni, I., Colleoni, M., Giagnoni, G., & Costa, B. (2009). Beneficial effects of a           Cannabis sativa extract treatment on diabetes‐induced neuropathy and oxidative stress.      Phytotherapy Research, 23(12), 1678-1684. Retrieved from: https://hal.archives-     ouvertes.fr/hal-00483244/document

Frisher, M., White, S., Varbiro, G., Voisey, C., Perumal, D., Crome, I., … & Bashford, J. (2010).        The role of cannabis and cannabinoids in diabetes. The British Journal of Diabetes &           Vascular Disease, 10(6), 267-273.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). National diabetes statistics report, 2017.      Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics/statistics-report.html

Selvarajah, D., Gandhi, R., Emery, C. J., & Tesfaye, S. (2010). Randomized placebo-controlled        double-blind clinical trial of cannabis-based medicinal product (Sativex) in painful diabetic neuropathy: Depression is a major confounding factor. Diabetes Care, 33(1),      128-130.

Author –

Ron GoedekeMD, BSc Hons MBChB, FNZCAM

Dr. Ron Goedeke, specialises in alternative and functional medicine. With over 20 years of experience in the anti-aging field, Dr Ron Goedeke is recognized as one of New Zealand’s leaders in this new and growing field of medicine.

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