Is cannabis effective for treating diabetes?

Cannabis has proven to have multiple benefits at the therapeutic level and to be effective for the treatment of various diseases. Some studies suggest that this plant could have useful properties for patients with diabetes, below we explain everything you need to know about this topic.

Is cannabis effective for treating diabetes?

As marijuana gains ground in the international regulatory framework, new possibilities open up in the scientific and medical field for the use of cannabinoids for health.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people around the world, and in recent years several studies have affirmed that cannabis could be a great ally to alleviate the effects of this disease.

Two of the main cannabinoids in cannabis, CBD and THCV, have been shown to be effective for treating type 2 diabetes in both animal and human studies. Apparently, THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin), at a dose of 5 mg twice a day, could lower blood glucose and the levels of free glucose in the blood.

On the other hand, it has been shown that CBD could be effective in reducing inflammation in patients suffering from this disease.

Studies related to cannabis and diabetes

There are numerous studies on this matter and, although it is true that most have been carried out with animals, some clinical trials have also been carried out with humans.

Here are the most relevant:

• In 2015 a group of Israeli scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, led by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam concluded that CBD possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can help in the treatment of various diseases, including diabetes.
• In 2016 a study investigated, with promising results, the potential of the cannabinoids CBD and THCV (alone and in combination), for the treatment of diabetes.
• Neuropathic pain is one of the long-term side effects of diabetes. In an open-label follow-up study of 380 patients, the vast majority noted pain relief and improved quality of life afterward. A significant improvement after consuming Sativex for 38 weeks, a cannabinoid-based drug.
• In a mouse study, CBD reduced the incidence of diabetes in a large percentage of individuals.

Benefits of cannabis for the treatment of diabetes

As we just mentioned, multiple studies support that marijuana offers benefits for patients with diabetes.

In this sense, scientific evidence indicates that:

• May help stabilize blood sugar levels.
• Certain cannabinoids can reduce arterial inflammation that some diabetics suffer from, and that can trigger cardiovascular disease.
• Reduces neuropathic pain derived from diabetes.
• Lowers blood pressure.
• Improves blood circulation.

Medicinal cannabis and diabetes

While the cannabis plant is still illegal in many countries of the world, the medicinal use of marijuana is increasingly spreading forcing governments to modify their legal framework in this regard.

Medical cannabis must be a regulated product that undergoes exhaustive analyzes that determine its safety. It must be free of pesticides or any substance that could be harmful to patients.

Another very important element to take into account when using medical cannabis is cannabis genetics, since each variety has a certain composition of cannabinoids.

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For the treatment of diabetes, it would be necessary to analyze which varieties produce the highest percentage of those cannabinoids (such as THCV or CBD), which can be beneficial for this purpose.

Is cannabis a good option for treating diabetes?

As mentioned above, multiple studies support the beneficial potential of cannabinoids for diabetes. However, no patient should start cannabis treatment without first consulting a doctor. Each case is different and may require different guidelines, as well as different routes of administration.

For example, there are CBD cannabis patches that are legal in countries like the United Kingdom or the USA, that can be a good option to avoid the harmful effects of combustion.

There are many variables to consider when prescribing cannabinoids for diabetes, and therefore it is very important that a medical professional do so.